A language guide for Southern Africa

written by The Common Wanderer May 15, 2017

The wild, endless plains of Namibia’s deserts, the rugged coastlines of South Africa, the roar of Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the oasis of Botswana’s Okavango Delta; Southern Africa is wildly diverse, and strikingly beautiful.

But perhaps nothing here is as diverse as the thousands of languages spoken, each as varied and vibrant as the many communities and countries they belong to. In Southern Africa alone, an estimated 1,500-2,000 native languages are spoken across every single day. In addition to that, when the Colonial European empires carved the entire African continent up between them, they introduced English (and to a lesser extent, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and German too).

So what does this mean for you as a traveller in Southern Africa?

Well, for the most part it means you could backpack your way from Lilongwe to Cape Town, right through multiple diverse countries, and never pass through one where English isn’t recognised as an official language. You could even rely solely upon your own mother tongue to get by – as most people will have at least a basic understanding of English.

You could do that – but as we know, the best experiences happen when you step outside your comfort zone and stumble through some unfamiliar phrases with the smiling storekeeper you’ve just met. Learning a few words in the local language will gain you a lot of respect, and help you understand the local culture in the process.

So you know your lekker from your nnyaa, here’s your beginner’s guide to who speaks what, and where, in Southern Africa.

Botswana

Official Languages: English

National Language: Setswana

Left over from years of colonial rule, English is now the official language of Botswana and is spoken widely in most urban or tourist areas.  Alongside this, almost 90% of locals in Botswana speak Setswana (also known as Tswana) as their mother tongue.

The word ‘pula’ holds special significance for locals in semi-arid Botswana. Literally translated to ‘let there be rain’ (a blessed event in this dry country), it’s also the name given to the local currency. In other contexts it means ‘shield’ and has become the enthusiastic cheer for football crowds or village gatherings.

Hello: Dumelarra (man) / Dumelamma (woman) [doo-mel-ah rrah / doo-mel-ah-mmah]

How are you? O tsogile jang, Le kae, or Wareng?

Yes: Ee

No: Nnyaa

Thank You: Ke itumetse or Ke aleboga

Goodbye: Tsamaya sentle (said to the person leaving). Sala sentle (said when you’re the one leaving)

Malawi

Official language: English

National language: Chichewa

Other important languages: Chinyanja, Chiyao and Chitumbuka

English is commonly used and understood in Malawi, particularly in tourist areas.

For a more authentic experience – and the chance to impress the extremely friendly locals with your efforts – try the following Chichewa phrases:

Hello: Moni [moa-nee]

How are you? Muli bwanji [ moo-ley-bwan-gee]

Yes: Eya [eh-ya]

No: Ayi [ayee]

Thank You: Zikomo [zee-koh-moh]

Goodbye: Ndapita [n-da-pee-tah]

Mozambique

Official Language: Portuguese

Other important languages: Around 43 (mostly Bantu) languages, the most common including: Lomwe, Makhuwa, Ndau and Tsonga.

Inherited from colonial times and spoken by around 50% of the population, Portuguese is both the official language of Mozambique, and the most widely spoken.

When first meeting someone in Mozambique it’s tradition to finish the conversation with this lovely, hopeful phrase ‘estamos juntos’: we are together.

Hello: Bomdia (bohm-dee-ya) – Good morning. Boatarde (bo-ah-tar-dee) – Good afternoon. Boanoite (bo-ah-noyteh) – Good night

How are you? Como Esta (co-mow-ehs-tah)?

Yes: Sim

No: Não (now)

Thank You: Obrigado (ohb-ree-gah-do)

Goodbye: Adeus

Namibia

Official Language: English

Other important languages spoken: Oshiwambo, Khoekhoe, Afrikaans, Kwangali, Herero

Namibians commonly speak two or three (or more!) languages; English, a native tongue like Oshiwambo (spoken by 49% of the population), and either German or Afrikaans.

In fact, due to the country’s colonial history you’ll hear German pretty regularly around areas like Swakopmund, while Afrikaans often functions as the lingua franca between locals.

Due to their proximity (and at one point, a shared history as one country), many South African slang words have also crept their way into Namibian conversation.

If you arrive at a social gathering and your host asks if you’d like a koue enetjie, answer ‘ja!’, and wait as they bring you out a nice, cold beer.

South Africa

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Official Languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Venda, Swati, Sesotho, Sepedi, Tsonga and Tswana.

With over 11 official languages (and a few more unofficial) South Africa really is the rainbow nation!

English is the lingua franca when it comes to business, politics, and media, but out on the streets you’re far more likely to hear a heady mix of tribal mother tongues, English, and Afrikaans (derived from 17th century colonial Dutch).

As a tourist, all you’ll really need is English to get by – but if you can whip out one of these phrases you’re sure to impress all your new South African buddies!

Jol [jowl]: have fun, party, or club. For example, “Last night was a jol!”

Braai [Br-eye]: A method of barbecuing meat over hot coals, generally seen as a social gathering, e.g. “Come over, we’re having a braai!”

Lekker [leh-kerr]: Good, cool, attractive, tasty. “Man, that braai was lekker!”

Zambia

Official Language: English

Local languages: 72

English, the language of the colonial period, is most commonly used for business and education and is widely spoken throughout all urban and tourist areas.

Other important languages include Bemba (the mother tongue spoken by over half the population), followed by Nyanja (very similar to Chichewa), Tonga, and Lozi.

                                    Bemba                                                                          Nyanja

Hello                        Shani [shah-nee]                                                      Bwanji [bwan-gee]

How are you?          Uli Shani? [ooh-lee shah-nee]                              Muli Bwanji [moo-ley bwan-gee]

Yes                            Ee                                                                                Eya / ee

No                             Awe [ah-wee]                                                            Ayi

Thank You               Natotela [nah-to-tey-la]                                        Zikomo [zee-koh-moh]

Goodbye                  Shalapo [shah-la-poh]                                            Pitani Bwino [pit-ahny bwee-no]

When meeting a Zambian for the first time, you should always greet the person formally by asking how they are. For example (in Nyanja):

Person 1: “Muli Bwanji?” – How are you?

Person 2: “Bueno. bwanji?” – OK, how are you?

Person 1: “Bueno!” – OK.

Zimbabwe

Official Languages: 16 – English, (chi)Shona, (isi)Ndebele, Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Tsoa, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa

While the mother tongue of most people in Zimbabwe is either chiShona (most widely spoken) or isiNdebele (similar to Zulu), most business and media is conducted in English.

You may also come across a mix of isiNdebele, chiShona, and English spoken by locals in some areas. This is Chilapalapa, and while not recognised as an official language, was in common usage (particularly in mining areas) during colonial times. Despite being seen historically as the ‘language of the colonial oppressor’, it has enjoyed a revival in recent times.

Some useful phrases in Zimbabwe include:

Tatenda:  A shorter way of saying thank you. Also a very popular name in Zimbabwe

Shamwari: Don’t know someone’s name? Shamwari means ‘friend’, and is always used if you don’t know somebody. Everyone has a shamwari in Zimbabwe!

Kunjan: Hi there

Mangwanani:  good morning

Masikati: good afternoon

FAQ

What language is spoken in South Africa?

There are over 11 official languages spoken in South Africa, they include Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Venda, Swati, Sesotho, Sepedi, Tsonga and Tswana.

How many languages are spoken in South Africa?

There are over 11 languages spoken in South Africa.

Want to practise your new vocab out Southern Africa? Find all the info on our expert-led small group adventures.

Words by the lovely team at The Common Wanderer, check out their Instagram for some serious wanderlust inspo

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