Adjectives

1. Indlu lenkhulu

   A big house

   Usage

   Shows "big" together with a noun, since the adjective changes with the noun

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives agree with the noun class: indlu (house, class 9) + lenkhulu (big, class 9 agreement). Do not use Zulu "inkulu"

2. Indlu lencane

   A small house

   Usage

   Shows "small" together with a noun

   Grammar Note

   indlu (house, class 9) + lencane (small, class 9 agreement).

3. Indlu lensha

   A new house

   Usage

   Shows "new" together with a noun

   Grammar Note

   indlu (house) + lensha (new, class 9 agreement).

4. Indlu lendzala

   An old house

   Usage

   Says a thing is old; not used for a person's age

   Grammar Note

   indlu (house) + lendzala (old, class 9 agreement).

5. Kuyabita kakhulu.

   It is very expensive.

   Usage

   When a price feels too high

   Grammar Note

   ku-ya-bita (it-present-be costly) + kakhulu (very). Do not use Zulu "kuyabiza"

6. Kubandza

   It is cold.

   Usage

   Says the weather is cold

   Grammar Note

   The subject is the impersonal ku-.

7. Kuyashisa.

   It is hot.

   Usage

   Says the weather is hot

   Grammar Note

   ku-ya-shisa (it-present-be hot).

8. Kuhle.

   It is good.

   Usage

   Says something is good or fine

   Grammar Note

   "kuhle" = it is good; The opposite is "kubi". Same form as Zulu.

9. Kubi.

   It is bad.

   Usage

   Says something is bad

   Grammar Note

   "kubi" = it is bad.

10. Dvutane

    Near

    Usage

    An adverb for "near"

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; e.g. "asebentele dvutane" (work closely together). "dv" is one sound; Zulu "eduze" is not used.

11. Khashane

    Far

    Usage

    An adverb for "far"

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; e.g. "Umoya waphakamisa licembe waya nalo khashane" (the wind took the leaf far away)

12. Tinyenti

    Many

    Usage

    Says there are many; the form for class 10 plural things

    Grammar Note

    Class 10 agreement form, e.g. "Tinyenti tindlela lesingatfola ngato kugula" (there are many ways to get sick). Do not use Zulu "ningi"

13. Timbalwa

    Few

    Usage

    Says there are few; the form for class 10 plural things

    Grammar Note

    Class 10 agreement form.

14. Emanti langcolile

    Dirty water

    Usage

    A phrase to warn that water is dirty

    Grammar Note

    emanti (water, class 6) + langcolile (dirty).

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