konke
The Zulu word for "all" is konke.
konke is used to mean "all" or "everything" when referring to things in the 'ku-' class, which includes inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
Meaning: every individual of the given class (det)
Which one should you use?
konke is used for things and concepts, whereas bonke is used when referring to all members of a group of people (the 'ba-' class).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form konke is specifically used for the "everything" or "all" sense when the subject belongs to the 'ku-' noun class.
Did you know?
- Because Zulu is an agglutinative language, the root for 'all' can be modified by prefixes to align with any of the many different noun classes in the language.
- The distinction between konke and bonke is part of a complex system of noun classes that can number over ten, far exceeding the two-gender system of Spanish or French.
- Using konke when you should use bonke would not just be a grammar slip, but would effectively describe a group of people as inanimate objects.
Examples in context
- Konke kumnandi.Everything is nice.
- Ngifuna konke.I want everything.
- Konke sekuphelile.Everything is finished.
Example conversation
Nomusa and Bandile are cleaning the house.
- NomusaSidinga ukuhlanza konke.We need to clean everything.
- BandileNgizosiza, Nomusa.I will help, Nomusa.
- NomusaNgiyabonga, Bandile.Thank you, Bandile.
- BandileAsiqale manje.Let's start now.
