| Helele, bomama | Helele, O mothers— |
| Amasiko ethu | Our rites, ancient rivers, |
| Soze aphele kithi | Shall never run dry within us, |
| Nabo okhokho bethu | Nor our forebears, their shadows at dusk, |
| Izimbali zesizwe | You are the wildflowers of the nation, |
| (Asibonge komama) | (Let us lift our thanks to mothers) |
| Abathokozisa bethu | You who gladden our hearts, |
| (Asibonge abazali) | (Let us praise our parents’ hands) |
| Izimbali zesizwe | You are the wildflowers of the nation, |
| (Asibonge komama) | (Let us lift our thanks to mothers) |
| Uma mina nawe singabambisana | If you and I entwine our efforts, like vines, |
| Uma mina nawe singahloniphana | If you and I, two stars, reflect each other in respect, |
| Helele, bomama | Helele, O mothers— |
| Amasiko ethu | Our rites, ancient rivers, |
| Soze aphele kithi | Shall never run dry within us, |
| Nabo okhokho bethu | Nor our forebears, their shadows at dusk, |
| Bridge: | Bridge: |
| Phambili, bomama | Ahead, O mothers, march— |
| Themba lesizwe | You, the pulse of our people’s hope, |
| Hheyi ubuhle benu | Your beauty—a dawn that will not pale— |
| Soze buphele | It will not fade, not while the sun still climbs. |
| Amaqhawe esizwe | Heroes, the pillars of our nation, |
| (Asibonge komama) | (Let us lift our thanks to mothers) |
| Bona basikhulisa | They reared us, sculptors of our spirit, |
| (Asibonge abazali) | (Let us praise our parents’ hands) |
| Yini ehlula abazali | What storm could sever parents’ love? |
| (Asibonge komama) | (Let us lift our thanks to mothers) |
| Uma mina nawe singabambisana | If you and I entwine our efforts, like vines, |
| Uma mina nawe singahloniphana | If you and I, two stars, reflect each other in respect, |
| Helele, bomama | Helele, O mothers— |
| Amasiko ethu | Our rites, ancient rivers, |
| Soze aphele kithi | Shall never run dry within us, |
| Nabo okhokho bethu | Nor our forebears, their shadows at dusk, |
| Bridge: | Bridge: |
| Phambili, bomama | Ahead, O mothers, march— |
| Themba lesizwe | You, the pulse of our people’s hope, |
| Hheyi ubuhle benu | Your beauty—a dawn that will not pale— |
| Soze buphele | It will not fade, not while the sun still climbs. |
| Helele, bomama | Helele, O mothers— |
| Amasiko ethu | Our rites, ancient rivers, |
| Soze aphele kithi | Shall never run dry within us, |
| Nabo okhokho bethu | Nor our forebears, their shadows at dusk |