Greetings are based on acknowledging the presence of the other person using the verb ukubona (to see) and enquiring after health and well-being using the verb ukuphila (to be well)
ukubona to see
ukuphila to live = be well
ukujabula to be glad, be happy
ukuzwa to hear
ukukwazi to know
njani? how? yebo yes
Sawubona hello
Yebo, sawubona hello
Unjani? How are you?
Kunjani? How’s it going?
Uphila njani? How are you?
Usaphila (na)? Are you still well?
Ngikhona Me, I'm well wena unjani? and how are you?
Kulungile It's okay kunjani kuwe? how's it with you?
Ngisaphila I'm still well wena uphila njani? you, how is it with you?
Ngiyaphila I'm well wena usaphila? are you still well? or ngicela kini? how's yours = how's the family
Nami ngikhona Me, I'm fine
Nakimi kulungile It's okay with me
(... on my side)
Nami ngiyaphila Me, I'm well
Nami ngisaphila Me, I'm still well
Nami Me too
Kulungile Okay
Ngiyathokoza ukukwazi I am pleased to know
you
Ngiyajabula uma uyaphila I'm glad (if)
you are well
Ngiyajabula ukuzwa ukuthi usaphila I am
glad to hear that you are well
Ngiyajabula ukuzwa loko I am glad to hear
that
Ngijabulela ukukwazi I'm glad to know
you
Ngiyajabula I'm glad
Nami ngiyajabula I also am glad
Kumnani ukukwazi It is nice to know
you
Nami me too
Sanibonani [say Sabonaan'] Hello
Yebo, sanibonani Hello
Ninjani How are you?
Kunjani kini? How’s it going?
Niphila njani? Are you well?
Nisaphila (na)? Are you still well?
Sikhona We’re well nina ninjani? and how are you?
Kulungile It's okay kunjani kini? how’s it with you ?
Sisaphila We are still well nina niphila njani? and you, are you well?
Siyaphila We are well nina nisaphila? are you well too? or sicela kini? how’yours? = how’s your family
Nathi sikhona Us, we’re fine
Nakithi kulungula It’s okay with us
( …on our side)
Nathi siyaphila Us, we're well
Nathi sisaphila We are still well
Nathi Us too
Kulungile It's okay
Siyathokoza ukukwazi We are pleased to know
you
Siyajabula uma niyaphila We are glad (if)
you are well
Siyajabula ukuzwa ukuthi niyaphila We are
glad to hear that you are well
Siyajabula ukuzwa lokoWe are glad to hear
that
Sijabulela ukukwazi We are glad to know
you
Siyajabula We're glad
Nathi siyajabula We also are glad
Kumnani ukuwazi It is nice to know you
Nathi Us too
This page- www.newt.clara.co.uk/isizulu/sawubona.htm
5 August 2002