Question Words

1. Yini?

   What?

   Usage

   The basic question word "what?"

   Grammar Note

   "yini" also works as a sentence-final question marker ("...?").

2. Kuphi?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks about a place; put it at the end, as in "Make Shongwe usebenta kuphi?" (where does Mrs Shongwe work?)

   Grammar Note

   "kuphi" is the Siswati "where"; same form as Zulu.

3. Nini?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time: "when?"

   Grammar Note

   "nini" = when; Same form as Zulu.

4. Ngubani?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks who someone is, as in "Ngubani libito lakho?"

   Grammar Note

   ngu-bani (it is-who); "ngu-" is the identifying prefix before a noun.

5. Kungani?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; put it at the start

   Grammar Note

   e.g. "Kungani Khetsile acale ayekele uyise..." (why did Khetsile ...). Same form as Zulu.

6. Kanjani?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about the way or manner: "how?"

   Grammar Note

   Different from "Unjani" (how are you); this asks about a method.

7. Tingaki?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks the number of things (class 10 plurals). For people use "Bangaki?"

   Grammar Note

   The "how many" word agrees with the noun class, e.g. "tingaki titjalo...?". Do not use Zulu "zingaki"

8. Bangaki?

   How many people?

   Usage

   Asks the number of people

   Grammar Note

   Class 2 agreement. e.g. "Bangaki bafundzi...?" (how many learners)

9. Malini?

   How much?

   Usage

   Asks the price; point at the item

   Grammar Note

   "malini" asks an amount of money (e.g. "Utawubhadala malini...?" = how much will you pay?). Alone it is a shortened shop question.

10. Likuphi lithoyilethi?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    The standard way to ask for the toilet

    Grammar Note

    Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. li-ku-phi (class 5 agreement + where) + lithoyilethi (toilet, class 5). "ikuphi" is the class 9 form; lithoyilethi takes li-.

11. Uvelaphi?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A common travel small-talk question

    Grammar Note

    u-vela-phi (you-come from-where).

12. Uneminyaka lemingaki?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks someone's age; for children and peers, not for elders

    Grammar Note

    u-ne-minyaka (you-have-years). Not the Zulu "emingaki"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages