umfo
The Ndebele word for brother is umfo.
umfo is a noun used to refer to a male sibling.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Did you know?
- Ndebele culture places heavy emphasis on 'Ubuntu', where the concept of being a 'brother' to others is a central philosophical pillar of community life.
- In Ndebele, the word for 'brother' can change depending on whether you are talking about a biological brother or a person of the same age group.
- Ndebele is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying umfo can change the nuance of the word or the intent of the speaker.
Examples in context
- Sawubona, bhuti wami. Unjani, umdala?Hello, my brother. How are you, elder brother?
- Umfo wami uyafisa.My brother is willing.
- Ngithanda umfo wami.I love my brother.
Example conversation
Sibusisiwe asks Mbuso about his family.
- SibusisiweUphi umfo wakho, Mbuso?Where is your brother, Mbuso?
- MbusoUmfo wami usemsebenzini.My brother is at work.
- SibusisiweUyasembenza manje?Is he working now?
- MbusoYebo, uyaqala namhla.Yes, he starts today.
