sala kahle, interjectional phrase

Forms:
sala gahle, sale gahleShow more Also sala gahle, sale gahle, slalla gooshley, tsala kahle.
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more IsiZulu, sala stay, remain behind + kahle, see gashle; when addressing more than one person, the form used is salani kahle.
Especially among isiZulu-speakers: ‘stay well’, an expression of good wishes, offered on parting by one leaving to one staying behind; hlala kahle; cf. stay well. See also hamba kahle (hamba sense 2 a).
1855 G.H. Mason Life with Zulus 73They approached the open door of the tent, and..saluted us with ‘Slalla gooshley,’ literally (Rest in peace), after which..they vanished.
[1930 S.T. Plaatje Mhudi (1975) 147I am going into the wilderness and will not rest till I have found Mzilikazi. Sala kahle (farewell in Zulu), my..sister.]
1940 F.B. Young City of Gold 359The headman welcomed him and asked him to sit and drink beer with him. ‘Sala kahle, Inkos — Stay in peace,’ he said, with a formal dignity.
1952 H. Klein Land of Silver Mist 73My son, I die happy...May the spirits protect you and make you a great chief...Sale Gahle.
1967 O. Walker Hippo Poacher 34‘You will not see me again. Sala gahle (Stay sweetly).’ ‘Hamba gahle (Go sweetly)’, said Tom.
1975 S.S. Mekgoe Lindiwe (1978) 26He is in Ward 21, Mdangeni Fort Hospital...You say Ward 21. Thank you...Salani kahle.
1978 Voice 11 Oct. 3A‘You ladies are brave...I’m glad you are going to stay...Salani kahle (goodbye),’ he said as he quickly disappeared.
1989 B. Ludman Day of Kugel 44‘If I go, and you stay, I say to you Sala kahle. That means “Stay well”.’...‘And what do I say?’ ‘You say Hamba kahle,’ he said. ‘That means “go well”.’
1991 P. Slabolepszy Braait Laaities. 18Sala kahle, Moira. I want to wish you Good Luck in all the things you do.
‘stay well’, an expression of good wishes, offered on parting by one leaving to one staying behind; hlala kahle;
Derivatives:
Hence sala kahle  noun phrase, an utterance of the words ‘sala kahle’.
1899 A. Werner Captain of Locusts 171Nono was already off, throwing back a ‘Sala kahle’ over her shoulders.
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18551991

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