How to Say Merry Christmas in Zulu

Africa

Nov 3

Written by Kelsey Cecil

Merry Christmas in Zulu

Ukhisimusi omuhle

Say it like this: oo-kee-see-MOO-see oh-MOO-hleh

Big letters show the part to say louder.

Quick answer

In Zulu, Merry Christmas is Ukhisimusi omuhle, said like oo-kee-see-MOO-see oh-MOO-hleh.
Happy New Year is Unyaka omusha omuhle.
People say it in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi and more.

What Ukhisimusi omuhle means

'Ukhisimusi' is the Zulu form of the word Christmas, and 'omuhle' means good or beautiful.

Other ways to say it in Zulu

Jabulele uKhisimusi

Say it like this: jah-boo-LEH-leh oo-kee-see-MOO-see

Means 'rejoice at Christmas'. Listed by Omniglot as a Zulu Christmas greeting.

Happy New Year

Unyaka omusha omuhle

Say it like this: oo-NYAH-kah oh-MOO-shah oh-MOO-hleh

A good new year: 'unyaka' means year and 'omusha' means new.

Where people speak Zulu

South AfricaZimbabweLesothoMalawiMozambiqueEswatini

Zulu (isiZulu) belongs to the Niger-Congo (Bantu) language family.

Hear it from Rally on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train around the world. He reaches Johannesburg at about 12:42 AM local time, and kids learn to say Ukhisimusi omuhle as he lands.

Watch Rally arrive in Johannesburg →

Christmas traditions where people speak Zulu

Summer Christmas: Because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas falls in summer, with sunshine and flowers in bloom. Schools are closed, and some families go camping.^[2]
Carols by candlelight: Christmas Eve brings carol singing in towns and cities, and Carols by Candlelight services are popular. On Christmas morning many people go to church.^[2]
Christmas lunch outdoors: On Christmas Day, families may eat roast meat with yellow rice and raisins, with Malva Pudding for dessert. On hot days they may have a braai (barbecue) and eat outside.^[2]

🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Zulu

Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.

Say Merry Christmas in more languages

See all 103 languages →

Questions parents ask

How do you say Merry Christmas in Zulu?

In isiZulu, say 'Ukhisimusi omuhle'. You may also hear 'Jabulele uKhisimusi', meaning 'rejoice at Christmas'. Both are used in South Africa and neighboring countries. The first is the most direct match to 'Merry Christmas', and it is understood by Zulu speakers of all ages.^[1][3]

How do you pronounce Ukhisimusi omuhle?

Say 'oo-kee-see-MOO-see oh-MOO-hleh'. The stress falls on the second-to-last syllable of each word. 'Kh' is a breathy k. The 'hl' in 'omuhle' is a special Zulu sound: put your tongue as for 'l' and blow air past its sides, as in Welsh ll.^[1]

What does Ukhisimusi omuhle mean?

'Ukhisimusi' is the Zulu form of the word Christmas. 'Omuhle' means good, beautiful or nice. So the phrase is 'good Christmas', matching English 'Merry Christmas'. In Zulu, adjectives agree with the noun, so 'omuhle' changes form to fit the word it describes.^[1]

How do you write and spell it in Zulu?

Zulu uses the Latin alphabet. Written on a card, it is 'Ukhisimusi omuhle', with a capital 'U' at the start. Some writers capitalize the 'K' inside, as in 'uKhisimusi'. Zulu words often begin with a vowel prefix, so do not drop the first 'U'.^[1][3]

How do you say Happy New Year in Zulu?

Say 'Unyaka omusha omuhle', pronounced 'oo-NYAH-kah oh-MOO-shah oh-MOO-hleh'. 'Unyaka' means year, 'omusha' means new and 'omuhle' means good. A longer wish is 'Ngikufisela unyaka omusha omuhle', meaning 'I wish you a good new year'. Both forms are listed by Omniglot.^[3][4]

Is there a formal and a casual way to say it?

'Ukhisimusi omuhle' is polite for all situations. A warmer form is 'Ngikufisela uKhisimusi', meaning 'I wish you Christmas joy', which is gentle and respectful. With elders it is also kind to start with the greeting 'Sawubona' (hello) before the wish.^[3]

When do people say it in South Africa?

Around December 24 and 25, which fall in the middle of the school summer holidays. Christmas Day is a public holiday, and Boxing Day, December 26, is too. Zulu speakers, who live mostly in KwaZulu-Natal and across South Africa, often use the greeting alongside English 'Merry Christmas'.^[2]

Is the main celebration Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Both. Christmas Eve has carol singing in towns and cities, including Carols by Candlelight. On Christmas Day many people attend a morning church service, then spend the afternoon visiting family and friends or taking a trip to the countryside for games or a swim. Boxing Day is spent out and about.^[2]

What are some Christmas traditions in South Africa?

Families have a big lunch of turkey, roast beef or pork with yellow rice and raisins, followed by Christmas pudding or Malva Pudding. Many pull Christmas crackers and eat outdoors, sometimes with a braai. Children leave stockings out for Santa, and mince pies are popular.^[2]

How can I teach Ukhisimusi omuhle to kids?

Break it into small pieces: u-khi-si-mu-si, then o-mu-hle. Practice the breathy 'kh' by whispering a 'k'. Make a summer-themed picture, with sun and a braai, because Christmas in South Africa is hot. Children can then say the greeting as they present their drawings.^[1][2]

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)