isiZulu

IsiZulu, also known as isiZulu or Zulu, is a Bantu language of the Nguni subgroup spoken primarily in South Africa by the Zulu people. It is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa and one of the country’s eleven official languages. Speakers are concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal, with many second-language speakers across Gauteng and other provinces, and in diaspora communities in neighboring countries.

IsiZulu is a tonal language with a complex grammatical system based on noun classes and verb morphology. Nouns belong to numerous classes, each indicated by a prefix, and the verb forms carry concords that agree with the subject, object, and tense. The language also uses a range of consonants including a set of click sounds borrowed from Khoisan languages, usually written as c, x, and q in the Latin-based orthography.

IsiZulu is written using the Latin alphabet. Tone is phonemic but is typically not marked in ordinary writing; readers rely on context and lexical knowledge. The standard written form is used in education, media, literature, and formal communication. There are several dialects, with Northern Zulu and KwaZulu-Natal Zulu among the most prominent.

IsiZulu has a strong cultural presence in South Africa and beyond. It is taught in schools, used in radio and television broadcasting, and supported by language development programs. The language also features in literature, music, and digital media, contributing to its vitality in urban and rural communities alike.