Ndiyakukhumbula
The English phrase 'I miss you' is translated into Xhosa as Ndiyakukhumbula.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Ndiyakukhumbula is broken down into several parts: the subject prefix ndi- (I), the present tense marker -ya-, the object concord -ku- (you) and the verb khumbula (remember/miss).
Which one should you use?
Use Ndiyakukhumbula when you are talking to one person. If you are speaking to a group of people, use the plural form Ndiyanikhumbula.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Ndiyakukhumbula uses the singular object concord -ku- to indicate you are speaking to one person. To change the phrase to the plural form for multiple people, the object concord -ku- is replaced with -ni- to create Ndiyanikhumbula.
Did you know?
- In Xhosa culture, expressing 'missing' someone can be tied to the concept of Ubuntu, where a person's identity is defined by their relationships with others.
- The verb khumbula is a linguistic double agent because it means both 'to miss' and 'to remember'. To say 'I miss you' is literally to say 'I remember you'.
- Xhosa is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying Ndiyakukhumbula can help convey the intensity of the emotion being expressed.
Examples in context
- Ndiyakukhumbula kakhulu.I miss you very much.
- Ndiyakukhumbula, mfondini.I miss you, my friend (male).
- Ndiyakukhumbula, ndifuna ukukubona.I miss you, I want to see you.
Example conversation
Lwazi and Siyabonga are talking on the phone.
- LwaziMolo Siyabonga, ndiyakukhumbula.Hello Siyabonga, I miss you.
- SiyabongaNam ndiyakukhumbula Lwazi.I miss you too, Lwazi.
- LwaziSiza nini ekhaya?When are you coming home?
- SiyabongaNiza ngovalo lweveki.I am coming next weekend.
