Xhosa Gender
Welcome to the fifth Xhosa lesson about gender. This time we will view a list of people, feminine and masculine, followed by grammar rules, finally a list of expressions in Xhosa to help you practice your daily phrases.
man  indoda | woman umfazi | husband umyeni | wife inkosikazi |
boy umfana | girl intombazana | father utata | mother umama |
Gender Grammar Rules
In general, gender is used to distinguish between male and female, sometimes referred to as masculine and feminine. For example: my son and daughter are students the noun [son] is masculine, while [daughter] is feminine. The following examples use gender in different ways and places to demonstrate their behavior.
| Grammar + Rules | Xhosa |
|---|---|
| my son is a student [masculine + noun] | unyana wam ungumfundi |
| her daughter is a student [feminine + noun] | intombi yakhe ingumfundi |
| he has a tall brother [adjective + masculine] | unomtakwabo omde |
| she has a tall sister [adjective + feminine] | unodade wabo omde |
| his brothers are young [plural masculine + adjective] | abantakwabo bancinane |
| his sisters are young [plural feminine + adjective] | oodade wabo bancinane |
The list below will probably provide more clarification. These are family members (males and females). I think it would be wise to memorize them as part of your important vocabulary list.
son nyana | daughter intombi | brother umtakwethu | sister udadewethu | grandfather utatomkhulu | grandmother umakhulu | child umntwana | children abantwana |
Expressions in Xhosa
Now it's time to practice expressions used in daily conversations. If you're a beginner in learning Xhosa, then the phrases below are something you would want to know.
| English | Xhosa |
|---|---|
| What do you mean? | uthethukuthini? |
| I don't understand | Andiqondi |
| I don't know | Andazi |
| What is that called in Xhosa? | ibizwa ntoni ngesi Punjabi? |
| What is this? | Yintoni le? |
| What does that word mean in English? | lithetha ukuthini eligama ngesingesi? |
| Sorry (if you made a mistake) | uxolo |
I hope you enjoyed this lesson about the gender in Xhosa. If you have any question about this lesson please contact me here. Now it's time to check the next lesson below.
| Xhosa Numbers |
Inspirational Quote: High achievement always takes place in a framework of high expectation. Jack Kinder |