umkami
The English phrase "my wife" is translated to Zulu as umkami.
This phrase is used by a married man to refer to his female spouse.
Did you know?
- In a polygamous family, the first wife is often viewed as the inkosikazi or 'queen' of the home, regardless of how many other wives are called umkami.
- The term umkami can be used in a broader ancestral sense to refer to a woman who was the wife of a forefather in a lineage.
- Because Zulu is an agglutinative language, adding a prefix or suffix to umkami can change the entire meaning of the relationship or the number of wives being referred to.
Examples in context
- Umkami ukhona ekhaya.My wife is at home.
- Umkami usebenza emhlanganweni.My wife is working at a meeting.
Example conversation
Mlungisi and Zanele are talking about their families at a community gathering.
- ZaneleMlungisi, unjani umndeni wakho?Mlungisi, how is your family?
- MlungisiSikhona, umkami nengane yami banempilo.We are well, my wife and my child are healthy.
- ZaneleKuhle ukuzwa lokho.It is good to hear that.
- MlungisiWena unjani, Zanele?How are you, Zanele?
