ingqondo
The Xhosa word for brain is ingqondo.
While ingqondo can refer to the physical organ, it is most commonly used in a figurative sense to mean the mind, intellect or understanding.
Meaning: organ (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ingqondo is iingqondo, which refers to brains or minds.
Did you know?
- The root of ingqondo is the verb ukuqonda, which means to be straight, correct or to understand. This implies that a person with 'brains' is someone who thinks in a direct and upright manner.
- When discussing mental health or emotional distress in Xhosa, speakers often refer to the ingqondo rather than the heart, shifting the locus of 'feeling' to the mind.
- The plural iingqondo can be used to describe a collective consensus or a 'meeting of the minds' during community deliberations.
Examples in context
- Ingqondo yomntu iyahlukile.A person's brain is different.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a science project.
- LwaziUbonile ukuba ingqondo yenza ntoni?Did you see what the brain does?
- LwaziEwe, ilawula yonke imizimba yethu.Yes, it controls our whole body.
- LwaziIngqondo inkulu kangakanani?How big is the brain?
- LwaziAyinkulu kakhulu kodwa iyandenza yonke into.It is not very big but it does everything.
