Dating & Romance

1. Uthandwa nguye.

   U-thandwa ngu-ye.

   You are liked by him.

   Usage

   Describing that someone is liked by another person

   Grammar Note

   uthandwa is the passive "you are liked/loved", followed by "nguye" (by him/her)

2. Ndingakumema ukuya edolophini?

   Ndi-nga-ku-mema u-ku-ya e-dolophini?

   Could I invite you to go to town?

   Usage

   A gentle way to ask someone out to town

   Grammar Note

   ndingaku- is the first-person potential with the ku- object concord for "you"

3. Uyandithanda na?

   U-ya-ndi-thanda na?

   Do you like me?

   Usage

   Asking if someone has feelings for you

   Grammar Note

   u-ya-ndi-thanda means "you love me" (u=you, ya=continuous, ndi=me, thanda=love)

4. Uyintombazana entle kakhulu.

   U-yi-ntombazana en-tle ka-khulu.

   You are a very beautiful girl.

   Usage

   Complimenting someone on their appearance

   Grammar Note

   u-yi-ntombazana means "you are a girl" using the copula yi-

5. Ndiyakuthanda.

   Ndi-ya-ku-thanda.

   I like/love you.

   Usage

   Expressing affection or love for someone

   Grammar Note

   ndi-ya-ku-thanda means "I love you" (ndi=I, ya=continuous, ku=you, thanda=love)

6. Ungandibhalela inombolo yakho?

   U-nga-ndi-bhalela i-nombolo ya-kho?

   Could you write me your phone number?

   Usage

   Asking for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   -bhalela is the applicative of bhala (write), meaning "write for/to"

7. Ndinomdla kuwe.

   Ndi-no-mdla ku-we.

   I am interested in you.

   Usage

   Expressing romantic interest in someone

   Grammar Note

   ndi-no-mdla means "I have interest" where no is the possessive copula

8. Ndifuna ukuhlala nawe.

   Ndi-funa u-ku-hlala na-we.

   I want to spend time with you.

   Usage

   Expressing the desire to be together

   Grammar Note

   nawe is na (with) + we (you), meaning "with you"

9. Hayi, andinomdla.

   Hayi, a-ndi-no-mdla.

   No, I am not interested.

   Usage

   Politely but clearly declining romantic interest

   Grammar Note

   a-ndi-no-mdla negates ndi-no-mdla with the negative prefix a-

10. Ndiyakuqonda. Masihlale singabahlobo.

    Ndi-ya-ku-qonda. Ma-si-hla-le si-nga-ba-hlobo.

    I understand. Let's just stay as friends.

    Usage

    Gracefully accepting rejection and keeping the friendship

    Grammar Note

    nje is an adverb meaning "just/only" for emphasis or limitation

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