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Introduction to the Ndebele language

Written by Mr L. Mthunzi

Lecture 2

Present tense

Ngiyafuna , I want

Ngilambile , I’m hungry

Ulambile , you are hungry ?

Balambile , they are hungry

Ngicela amanzi , can I have water

Silambile , we are hungry

To ask a question in the Ndebele language you ‘generally’ put a ‘ yini’ at the end of the sentence or at grammatically correct position . The term ‘yini’ is a questioning term .

E.g. Ufuna imali yini ? Do you want money ?

Ufuna ukudla khathesi yini ? Do you want to eat now ?

Yisikhathi bani ? What’s the time ?

Kuthiwa yini ngeSindebele ? What is it in Ndebele ?

Ye yimbiza . Yes it’s a pot .

Ayisiyo inkomo lithole . It’s not a cow it’s a calf .

Answer these questions

1. Ulambile yini ? Are you hungry ?

2.Ubanikile isinkwa sabo yini ? Did you give them their bread ?

3.Usuthile yini ? Are you satisfied ?

4.Bakunikile itiketi yini ? Did they give you a ticket ?

1.Yebo ngilambile . Yes I’m hungry.

2.Yebo ngibanikile isinkwa sabo . Yes I gave them their bread.

3.Yebo ngisuthile . Yes I’m satisfied .

4.Hatshi kabanginikanga itiketi . No they did not give me a ticket.

1.Layitha isitofu malume. Switch on the stove uncle.

2.Umngane wakho usebuyile mfowethu. Your friend has come my brother.

3.Ulalele impendulo isendabeni le gogo. Listen the answer is in this story granny.

4.Lalela mkami . Listen my wife .

1.Ungalayithi isitofu malume . Don’t switch on the stove uncle .

2.Umngane wakho kakabuyi mfowethu . Your friend has not come yet my brother . 3.Ungalaleli impendulo kayikho endabeni le gogo . Don’t listen the answer is not in this

story granny .

4.Ungalaleli mkami . Don’t listen my wife .

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