Weather again.

     I got my test back today.  I only got an 80, but I will get a better grade next time.  We talked more about weather today.  It was pretty boring.

kukho imvula= there is rain

kukho umoya= there is wind/air pressure/evil spirit

-The people know the difference by the context of the conversation.

ikhephu= snow/fog

-I believe this literally means white blanket which is why it applies to both.

igabaka= frost

iinduduma= thunder

-There was no word for thunder, so this is almost an imitation of the sound.

inkungu= mist

imibani= lightening

-The word for electricity is umbani and imibani is technically the plural for electricity.

Ibinjani imozulu izolo?= How was the weather yesterday?

Agomso= tomorrow

 

He gave us some more random questions/words as well:

 

Ndicela...= I ask for

Ucela ntoni?= You ask for what?

Layila= turn on

Cima= turn off

Ukhona umbuzo?= Is there a question?

Unombuzo?= Do you have a question?

Andinambuzo= I don't have a question.

Ndinombuzo= I have a question.

 

I also learned about the origin of the Xhosa language that I am learning.  Xhosa was never written down before the missionaries came.  When they came they heard two dialects of it: Gcaleka and Rharhabe.  They combined these two languages and wrote them down.  This created what is called formal isiXhosa.  There are still a lot of other dialects, but they are considered slang or street isiXhosa.  That's about it.  Hamba Kakuhle.