konke
The English word "all" can be translated into Xhosa as konke.
konke is used to mean "all" when referring to every individual of a given class, but it specifically functions to mean "everything" or "all of it" when the subject is an abstract concept or a thing.
Meaning: every individual of the given class (det)
How does it change in a sentence?
In Xhosa, konke is the neuter/class 15 form of "all", which makes it the appropriate choice when you are discussing abstract concepts or objects.
Did you know?
- If you mistakenly use konke when referring to a group of people, a native speaker will understand you, but it sounds as if you are referring to the people as a single inanimate object or a mass of matter.
- Xhosa is a Bantu language, meaning it shares the logic of using konke and its relatives with hundreds of other languages across Sub-Saharan Africa, from Zulu to Swahili.
- While konke means 'everything', Xhosa has distinct ways to say 'all' that differentiate between a collective group and every single single individual in that group.
Examples in context
- Zonke abafundi bayathanda amabhukuAll students love books
- Bantu bonke bahamba ngeendlela zaboAll people walk their own paths
Example conversation
Olwethu and Nomvula are cleaning a room together.
- OlwethuNomvula, konke kusebenzayo na?Nomvula, is everything working?
- NomvulaEwe, konke kulungile.Yes, everything is fine.
- OlwethuKuhle kakhulu.That is very good.
- NomvulaNgoku singahamba.Now we can go.
