Basic Verbs

1. Ku famba

   To go / to walk

   Usage

   The basic verb for going or travelling

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word. Use "famba", not Zulu "hamba", which in Xitsonga is an aspect marker

2. Ku ta

   To come

   Usage

   Means to come here. The imperative is "Tana" (plural "Tanani")

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word

3. Ku dya

   To eat

   Usage

   The basic verb for eating

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word. Not Zulu "ukudla"

4. Ku nwa

   To drink

   Usage

   The basic verb for drinking

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word. Not Zulu "phuza"

5. Ku xava

   To buy

   Usage

   Means to buy

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word. Not Zulu "thenga". "ku xavisa" means to sell

6. Ku vona

   To see

   Usage

   Means to see or to meet

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word. Not Zulu "bona"

7. Ku rindza

   To wait / to guard

   Usage

   Means to wait; the sources also use it for keeping watch

   Grammar Note

   "ku" marks the infinitive and is written as a separate word

8. Ndzi lava ku famba

   I want to go

   Usage

   Says you want to go; a destination can follow (e.g. ku ya eJoni)

   Grammar Note

   "Ndzi lava ku ..." is a want-pattern found in the sources; subject, verb and infinitive are written separately

9. Ndzi lava ku dya

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Says you want to eat

   Grammar Note

   The frame "Ndzi lava ku" followed by a verb. The sentence is composed from dictionary-verified words and was not found verbatim in the sources

10. Ndzi swi lava

    I want it

    Usage

    Said while pointing at something you want

    Grammar Note

    The object concord "swi" comes before the verb; subject, object and verb are written separately. The sentence is composed from dictionary-verified words and was not found verbatim in the sources

11. A ndzi swi lavi

    I don't need it

    Usage

    Used to decline something offered

    Grammar Note

    Negation is "A" plus the verb ending "-i", the same pattern as "A ndzi mi tivi" in the sources. The sentence is composed from dictionary-verified words and was not found verbatim in the sources

12. Ndzi na swona

    I have it

    Usage

    Answers that you have something

    Grammar Note

    "na" before a pronoun expresses having, as in "leswi a nga na swona" in the sources. The sentence is composed from dictionary-verified words and was not found verbatim in the sources

13. A ndzi na swona

    I don't have it

    Usage

    Says you do not have something

    Grammar Note

    The same negative pattern as "A ndzi na nandzu" (I have no guilt) in the sources. The sentence is composed from dictionary-verified words and was not found verbatim in the sources

14. Ndzi byele

    Tell me

    Usage

    Asks someone to tell you something; add "Ndzi kombela" before it to be more polite

    Grammar Note

    The form "ndzi byele!" (tell me) appears in the sources

Browse all TravelPhrases languages