Ngibuza isiteshi

Near is expressed using -seduze nas-. Next to is expressed using -secaleni nas-.

See also places

emva kwa- after
phambi kwa- before
phezu kwa- on to of
phansi kwa- under
phakathi kwa- inside, between
ngale kwa- across
-seduze nas- near
-secaleni nas- next to

You say a place is near another with -seduze nas-:

IVineyard iseduze nasesiteshini The Vinyard (Hotel) is near the station
Isiteshi siseduze nasekhaya sami The station is near my home

But omit the s- if following a verb:

Thina sihlala eduze nasebhishimi We stay near the beach
Ngisabenza eduze nasesiteshini I work near the station

You say a place is next to another using -secaleni nas-:

ISpar isecaleni nasechange The Spar is next to the bank
Ikhefi lisecaleni nasegalaji The cafe is next to the shop

To ask can you tell me the way? use the idiomatic verb ukubuza (to ask) or more politely ukucela indlela eya (to request the road that goes to)

ukubuza to ask
ukucela indlela eya to request the road that goes to

Sibuza isiteshi We ask (for) the station
Ngicela indlela eya esiteshini Can you direct me to the station please NB: = locative form

You say something is at X place using the formative -s- with the subject concord and locative noun - concord + s + locative:

ISpar iseChurch Street The Spar is in Church Street
ISpar isekhoneni leChurch St neBeach Road The Spar is at the corner of Church Street and Beach Road
Ubaba usemsebenzini Father is at (his) work
Ibhotela lisefrijini The butter is in the fridge

NB: ekhoneni lika-[name if person] ... nelika-[name if person] on the corner of (name street) and (name street) or ekhoneni le-[name] ... ne-[name] on the corner of (name not a person's street) and (name not a person's street) eg ekhoneni lika-Mntungwa Road ne-Dock Road on the corner of Mntungwa Road and Dock Road

Useful phrases

uqhubeka uze ufike You carry on until ( = -ze) you reach
Ujikele ngakwesobunxele You turn to your left
Ujikele ngakwesokudla You turn to your right
Weqe umhwaqo You cross the street
Uqonde ngqo You carry straight on
Ngala mgwaqo With this road
Wedlule You pass a
Emarobhotini At the robots
Esitobhini At the stop street
Emahlukandela At the crossroads
Uxolo mfowetu ngibuza umgwaquo oya Excuse me bro' I'm looking for the road that goes to
Uxolo dade lo mgwaqo uya [place] na? Sorry sister does this road go to (place?)
Mangibuze mfowethu uya kuphi mgwaqo? Let me ask my brother where does this road go to?
Ngibuza umgwaqo oya Where is the road to
Awungilayele ihhovisi? Can you direct me to the office please?
Ngilahlekile I'm lost

This page- www.newt.clara.co.uk/isizulu/kwa2.htm
9 August 2002