Xhosa Theme 4: Question words, Quantities, Weather and Time Question words Who? What? Why? When? Where?

How? How much is it? Quantities Many, a lot of A little of A dozen of A few Enough Too little Too much A kilo of Weather What will be the weather today? What will be the weather tomorrow? It's cold. It's warm. It's raining. It's snowing. It's foggy. Time What time is it? It's five o'clock. Five fifteen. Five-thirty. At four forty-five. At five ten. Four-fifty. It's midnight. It's noon. Ten minutes ago. In half an hour. Since nine p.m. After seven p.m. Before eight a.m. When does it begin? He's on time. He's late. Earlier. Later

Ngubani? Ntoni? Ngoba? Nini? Phi? Njani? Yimali ni? Kuninzi; okuninzi Okuncinci/ intwana Idazini, ishumi nambini Mbalwa Okwaneleyo Kuncinci nje Kuninzi kakhulu Ikilo Linjani izulu namhlanje? Lizoba njani izulu ngomso? Kuyabanda. Kuyatshisa. Liyana. Liyakhithika. Kunkungu. Lithini ixesha? Intsimbi yesihlanu. Mkhono emva kwentsimbi yesihlanu Isiqingatha emva kweyesihlanu Umkhono phambi kweyesine. Imizuzu elishumi emva kweyesihlanu. Imizuzu elishumi phambi kweyesihlanu. Kusezinzulwini zobusuku. Emini emaqanda Imizuzu elishumi egqithileyo. Ngesiqangatha seyure. Kusukela ngentsimbi yesithoba ebusuku. Emva kwentsimbi yesixhenxe Phambi kwentsimbi yesibhozo. Iqala nini? Ufike ngexesha. Ufike emva kwexesha. Ngaphambi lixesha. Emva kwexesha.

Before After Soon On Wednesdays Each month Each week Since yesterday Since May Since last week Since last month Next year
COMMENTS:

Phambi kwexesha. Emva kwexesha. Kwangoku NgoLwesithathu Inyanga nganye Iveki nganye Kusukela izolo Kusukela ngoMeyi Kusukela ngeveki egqithileyo Kusukela ngenyanga egqithileyo Kunyaka ozayo.

Time in the olden times was measured by the sun (ilanga). The Xhosa people observed the natural cycles of changes of the day and events which accompanied these changes. For example, the early dawn was described by the names of the stars which appeared at dawn. Morning again was marked by the activities of the day. For example, mid-morning (intlazane) was marked by the return of the cattle from the fields for milking. The position of the sun played an important factor in naming time as well; e.g. noon was termed emini emaqanda, which means that the eggs would have been laid. This traditional concept of African time was changed by the Western concept of clock time.

Xhosa Video 4: Question words, Quantities, Weather and Time A: Tourist B: Xhosa speaker A: Ungubani wena? B: NdinguNcedile. A: UNcedile wakwabani? B: UNcedile wakwaSaule. Theme 4: Question words, Quantities, Weather and Time

Who are you? I am Ncedile. Ncedile who? Ncedile Saule. Ncedile, may I please have a little food. Alright. When will you watch the match? I will watch it tomorrow at 5 oclock. How will the weather be tomorrow? It will be warm tomorrow. What is the time now? It is noon.

A: Ncedile, ndicela ukutya okuncane. B: Kulungile. Uzowubukela nini umdlalo? A: Ndizowubukela ngomso ngo-5 ngqo.

B: Liza kuba njani izulu ngomso? A: Liza kutshisa ngomso. Lithini ixesha ngoku? B: Kusemini enkulu.

A: Yhu! Ndishiywe lixesha!

O dear! I am late!