unjani?
The English phrase "how are you?" is translated into Swati as unjani?
unjani? is a common greeting used to ask someone about their well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The prefix u- in unjani? refers to the singular second-person pronoun "you".
Which one should you use?
unjani? is used when addressing one person, whereas ninjani? is used for multiple people.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "how are you?" to a group of people, use ninjani? instead of unjani?
When do people say it?
A common response to unjani? is ngikhona, which literally means "I am present/here".
Did you know?
- The greeting unjani? is closely linked to the concept of Ubuntu, a philosophy emphasizing the interconnectedness of all people. Asking about another person's state is seen as acknowledging their shared humanity.
- In Swati culture, a greeting is often just the beginning of a longer ritualized exchange of well-wishes that can last several minutes.
- Swati is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying unjani? can subtly alter the emotional nuance of the question, moving from a casual check-in to genuine concern.
Examples in context
- Yebo, unjani?Yes, how are you?
- Sawubona, unjani?Hello, how are you?
- Ngiyakubingelela, unjani?I greet you, how are you?
Example conversation
Thabo and Sibusisiwe meet on the street.
- ThaboSawubona Sibusisiwe, unjani?Hello Sibusisiwe, how are you?
- SibusisiweNgikhona Thabo, unjani wena?I am fine Thabo, how are you?
- ThaboNgikhona nami, ngiyabonga.I am also fine, thank you.
- SibusisiweKuhle lokho.That is good.
