Ndza ku rhandza
To say "I love you" in Tsonga, use Ndza ku rhandza.
The phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling, but the verb rhandza can also be used to express liking or affection for friends and family.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Ndza ku rhandza is composed of Ndza (I), ku (you) and rhandza (love/like).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Ndzi ku rhandza is a common variation of Ndza ku rhandza used in many Tsonga dialects.
Did you know?
- In Tsonga culture, expressing 'love' via Ndza ku rhandza is often considered a profound declaration of commitment rather than just a casual compliment.
- Tsonga uses an agglutinative structure, meaning Ndza is not just 'I' but a combination of the subject and the present tense marker.
- The verb rhandza is a linguistic relative of the Zulu verb thanda, meaning the core concept of 'love' is shared across these Southern African languages.
Examples in context
- Ndza ku rhandza!I love you!This example shows the use of Ndza ku rhandza as an exclamation.Tatoeba #13654317 by ecorralest101, translation #2365642 by CE
- Ndza ku rhandza swinene.I love you very much.
- Xigundzini, ndza ku rhandza.My dear, I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment in a garden.
- HlongwaneNtsiki, ndza ku rhandza.Ntsiki, I love you.
- NtsikiHlongwane, na mina ndza ku rhandza.Hlongwane, I love you too.
- HlongwaneU munhu wa nene.You are a good person.
- NtsikiInkomu, wena u nene.Thank you, you are kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rhandza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
