unjani?
To say "how are you?" in Tsonga, use unjani?
unjani? is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being or health.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of u njani? In this context, njani functions as the interrogative word for "how".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form unjani? is a contraction of u njani?, where u serves as the singular second-person pronoun.
When do people say it?
When someone asks unjani?, a common response is ndzi kona, which literally means "I am here" or "I am present". Another frequent response is ndzi pfukile, meaning "I am well" or "I have woken up well", which is particularly used in the morning.
Did you know?
- A greeting in Tsonga often extends beyond the individual to include the whole family, reflecting a view that well-being is a collective state rather than a private one.
- While unjani? seems simple, the pronoun u is an example of Tsonga's efficiency, as it functions as the second-person 'you' and the third-person 'he' or 'she' simultaneously.
- Using unjani? with an elder without adding specific honorifics can be seen as a social faux pas. In Tsonga culture, the level of respect is embedded in the structure of the greeting rather than just the tone of voice.
Examples in context
- Unjani?How are you?
- Mama, unjani?Mother, how are you?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet on the street.
- YavukiAvuxeni, Hlongwane, unjani?Good morning, Hlongwane, how are you?
- HlongwaneNdzi kona, Yavuki. Wena unjani?I am fine, Yavuki. How are you?
- YavukiNdzi kona na mina, kwihi ku ya?I am also fine, where are you going?
- HlongwaneNdzi ya eka hinkwaswo.I am going everywhere.
