About Zulu

Zulu, or isiZulu, is a Southern Bantu language and the most widely spoken home language in South Africa, with approximately 12 million native speakers. It developed from the Nguni language cluster and rose to prominence during the reign of King Shaka in the early 19th century, when the Zulu Kingdom became a major regional power.

Zulu is written using the Latin alphabet and is one of South Africa's eleven official languages. The language is famous for its click consonants, borrowed from neighboring Khoisan languages, which give it a distinctive sound. Zulu has had a significant influence on South African culture, music, and literature, and its greeting "Sawubona" (meaning "I see you") reflects a deeply relational philosophy of human connection.