Language/Zulu/Grammar/Plurals

Zulu Grammar - Plurals

Hi Zulu learners!😊
Learning Zulu Grammar can be a challenging task, but it is also very rewarding. In this lesson, we will focus on the formation of plurals in Zulu.

Formation of Plurals

In Zulu, there are two main ways to form plurals: by adding a suffix or by reduplication.

Suffixes

The most common way to form plurals in Zulu is by adding a suffix. The suffixes used depend on the noun class of the word. For example, the suffix for nouns in class 1 is -abantu, while the suffix for nouns in class 2 is -izinja.

For example, the plural of umuntu (person) is abantu (people), and the plural of inkomo (cow) is izinja (cows).

Reduplication

Another way to form plurals in Zulu is by reduplication. This means repeating the word twice. For example, the plural of intombi (girl) is intombintombi (girls).

Reduplication is used mainly for nouns in class 1, but it can also be used for nouns in other classes.

Irregular Plurals

Some nouns have irregular plurals. For example, the plural of umfazi (woman) is amazwi (women).

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have looked at the two main ways to form plurals in Zulu: by adding a suffix and by reduplication. We have also seen some examples of irregular plurals.

To improve your Zulu Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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