3. NOUN CLASSES
Originally, Bantu languages had over 20 noun categories. Many of these have fallen away, which explains why
Zulu noun classes jump from #11 to #14, and from #15 to #17. To keep it simple, I have divided them into 9 groups:
Zulu noun classes jump from #11 to #14, and from #15 to #17. To keep it simple, I have divided them into 9 groups:
U-O GROUP
[mostly family and food]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
all you need to do is change the U at the beginning of the noun to O...
ugogo (grandmother) -- ogogo (grandmothers)
all you need to do is change the U at the beginning of the noun to O...
ugogo (grandmother) -- ogogo (grandmothers)
UM[U] - AB[A] GROUP
[mostly people and jobs]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
all you need to do is change the UM[U] at the beginning of the noun to AB[A]...
umfana (boy) -- abafana (boys)
all you need to do is change the UM[U] at the beginning of the noun to AB[A]...
umfana (boy) -- abafana (boys)
UM[U] - IMI GROUP
[mostly nature and objects]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
all you need to do is change the UM[U] at the beginning of the noun to IMI...
umfula (river) -- imifula (rivers)
all you need to do is change the UM[U] at the beginning of the noun to IMI...
umfula (river) -- imifula (rivers)
I[LI] - AMA GROUP
[mostly borrowed words]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
all you need to do is change the I[LI] at the beginning of the noun to AMA...
iqanda (egg) -- amaqanda (eggs)
all you need to do is change the I[LI] at the beginning of the noun to AMA...
iqanda (egg) -- amaqanda (eggs)
ISI - IZI GROUP
[mostly objects and languages]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
all you need to do is change the ISI at the beginning of the noun to IZI...
isivalo (door) -- izivalo (doors)
all you need to do is change the ISI at the beginning of the noun to IZI...
isivalo (door) -- izivalo (doors)
IN/IM - IZIN/IZIM GROUP
[mostly animals]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
all you need to do is change the IN/IM at the beginning of the noun to IZIN/IZIM...
inkomo (cow) -- izinkomo (cows)
all you need to do is change the IN/IM at the beginning of the noun to IZIN/IZIM...
inkomo (cow) -- izinkomo (cows)
If you have forgotten what nasal and aspirated sounds are, go to the lesson on PRONUNCIATION.
If this explanation is confusing, click on CONTACT above - I would be happy to explain it further.
U(LU) - IZIN/IZIM GROUP
[mostly concepts]
To change these words from singular (one) to plural (many),
you need to change the U(LU) at the beginning of the noun to IZIN/IZIM
and remove the H from aspirated words...
uphaphe (feathers) -- izimpaphe (feathers)
you need to change the U(LU) at the beginning of the noun to IZIN/IZIM
and remove the H from aspirated words...
uphaphe (feathers) -- izimpaphe (feathers)
UBU/UTSH GROUP
[mostly concepts]
This group has no plural form.
UKU GROUP
[mostly concepts]
This group has no plural form.