Ndinokusuwa
In Shona, "I miss you" is said as Ndinokusuwa.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into the subject prefix ndi- (I), the present tense marker -no-, the object marker -ku- (you) and the verb stem -suwa (miss).
Which one should you use?
Ndinokusuwa uses the present tense marker -no-. If you were to use -cha- instead, the meaning would change to the future tense, "I will miss you".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I miss you too" in response, you can add the suffix -wo to the end of the phrase to create Ndinokusuwawo.
Did you know?
- If you were to say Ndinokusuwa to a person of much higher status, you might use a different respectful subject prefix, such as Tinokusuwa, to show humility.
- Because Shona is a tonal language, the meaning and emotion behind Ndinokusuwa can change significantly based on the pitch you use for each syllable.
- While Ndinokusuwa is a direct translation, Shona speakers often express the same sentiment by saying Ndinokufunga, which literally means 'I am thinking of you'.
Examples in context
- Ndinokusuwa zvakanyanya.I miss you very much.
- Ndinokusuwa mudiwa wangu.I miss you, my love.
Example conversation
Two friends talking on the phone after a long time.
- FaraiRuvimbo, ndinokusuwa zvikuru.Ruvimbo, I miss you very much.
- RuvimboNdinokusuwaiwo, Farai.I miss you too, Farai.
- FaraiTichaonana kupi?Where will we see each other?
- RuvimboTichaonana muguta svondo rinouya.We will see each other in town next week.
