Difference between revisions of "Language/Shona/Grammar/Gender"

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<div class="pg_page_title">Shona Grammar - Gender</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">Shona Grammar - Gender</div>
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/shona Shona] learners! 😊<br>In this lesson, we will learn about the gender rules in Shona. We will look at how to identify the gender of nouns and how to use them correctly in sentences. Let's get started! __TOC__
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/shona Shona] learners! 😊<br>
In this lesson, we will learn about gender in Shona language. Gender is an important feature in Shona that affects nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and even agreement markers.


==Gender in Shona==
__TOC__
In Shona, nouns are either masculine or feminine. This means that when you use a noun in a sentence, you must also use the correct gender form of the verb or adjective. For example, if you are talking about a woman, you must use the feminine form of the verb or adjective.


The gender of a noun can usually be identified by its ending. Masculine nouns usually end in -a or -wa, while feminine nouns usually end in -i or -wi. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.  
== What is gender in Shona? ==
In Shona, gender is a grammatical category that classifies nouns into four categories: the masculine, feminine, diminutive, and augmentative. Gender is important because it affects the way words are modified and constructed in sentences in Shona.


===Masculine Nouns===
== Gender classes ==
Masculine nouns usually end in -a or -wa. Here are some examples:
Shona has four gender classes:


{| class="wikitable"
=== Masculine Gender (ravaro) ===
|-
This is the gender class that is mostly associated with male persons, objects, and animals. Nouns in this class include wakadzi (man), bhero (bull), and tandara (iron).
! Shona !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
 
|-
=== Feminine Gender (rave) ===
| mukoma || moo-koh-mah || brother
The feminine gender class is mostly associated with female persons, objects, and animals. Nouns in this class include mukadzi (woman), mbudzi (goat), and mhanzi (horse).
|-
| mukadzi || moo-kah-dzee || wife
|-
| mupfumi || moo-pfoo-mee || smell
|-
| mupfungwa || moo-pfoo-ngwah || tree
|}


===Feminine Nouns===
=== Augmentative Gender (rahu) ===
Feminine nouns usually end in -i or -wi. Here are some examples:
The augmentative gender class is used to refer to large, heavy or important objects, animals, or persons. Nouns in this class include chitova (elephant), mapurisa (police officers), and chitongwizo (king).


{| class="wikitable"
=== Diminutive Gender (radiki) ===
|-
The diminutive gender class is used to refer to small or young animals, objects, or persons. This class includes musana (young person), gotsi (calf), and mhuru (chicken).
! Shona !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
| mai || mah-ee || mother
|-
| mukadzi || moo-kah-dzee || wife
|-
| mhuka || mhoo-kah || house
|-
| mupfumi || moo-pfoo-mee || smell
|}


==Using Gender in Sentences==
== How to identify gender in Shona ==
Once you have identified the gender of a noun, you must use the correct gender form of the verb or adjective. Here are some examples:
Usually, in Shona, the gender of a noun can be identified by the prefix that precedes it, as well as the tone of the word.  


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Shona !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| murume (masculine)  || m̩ɔrʊme || man
|-
|-
! Shona !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
| shamwari (feminine)  || ʃamwari || female friend
|-
|-
| Mai vakadzi vanhu. || mah-ee vah-kah-dzee vahn-hoo || The woman is a person.
| chikafu (masculine)  || t͡ʃɪkafu || food
|-
|-
| Mukoma anokudzwa. || moo-koh-mah ah-noh-koo-dzwah || The brother is being called.
| nyama (feminine)  || ɲama || meat
|-
|-
| Mhuka yacho inorwadza. || mhoo-kah yah-choh ee-noh-rwah-dzah || The house is beautiful.
| huni (diminutive) || hʊni || small grain
|-
|-
| Mupfungwa uyu unogara. || moo-pfoo-ngwah oo-yoo oo-noh-gah-rah || That tree is big.
| huge (augmentative)  || hʊge || huge rock
|}
|}


==Quiz==
== Agreement markers ==
Test your knowledge of Shona gender with this quiz:
In Shona, agreement markers agree with the noun class of the subject of the sentence. The agreement markers are prefixes added to the verb and adjectives. For example:
 
* Murume a-rimwe (The man is one)
* Muroyi a-one? (Who is he/she?)


# What is the gender of the word ''mukadzi''?
Here, the prefix a- is added to the verb to agree with the noun class.
# What is the gender of the word ''mupfungwa''?
# How do you say ''The woman is a person'' in Shona?
# How do you say ''The house is beautiful'' in Shona?


Answers:
== Culture and interesting facts ==
# Feminine
In Shona culture, gender plays a significant role in many aspects of life. For example, in traditional Shona society, male and female roles were clearly defined. Men were expected to hunt, farm, and build, while women were expected to cook, take care of children, and perform other domestic duties. However, with modernization, these societal roles have begun to change.
# Masculine
# Mai vakadzi vanhu.
# Mhuka yacho inorwadza.


==Practice==
Another interesting fact about Shona gender is the use of gender-neutral pronouns. In modern times, some Shona people have begun to use the pronoun "wo" instead of the traditional gendered pronouns. This change is still controversial in Shona society.
To improve your [[Language/Shona|Shona]] [[Language/Shona/Grammar|Grammar]], you can also use the [https://polyglotclub.com Polyglot Club] website. [https://polyglotclub.com/find-friends.php?search=send&d=0&f=36&offre1=111 Find native speakers] and ask them any [https://polyglotclub.com/language/shona/question questions]!


<hr>➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.<br>➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
== Examples ==
Here are some examples of a dialogue in Shona to illustrate gender:
* Person 1: Makorokoto, murume. (Congratulations, man)
* Person 2: Ndaita hwo? (What did I do?)
* Person 1: Uchadya chikafu. (You will eat food)


{{#seo:
== Conclusion ==
|title=Shona Grammar - Gender
In conclusion, gender is an important aspect of the Shona language. It affects the way we construct sentences, modify words and interpret meanings. To improve your understanding of Shona gender, try speaking with native Shona speakers on [https://polyglotclub.com/find-friends.php?search=send&d=0&f=36&offre1=111 Polyglot Club]!
|keywords=Shona, gender, nouns, verbs, adjectives, masculine, feminine
|description=In this lesson, we will learn about the gender rules in Shona. We will look at how to identify the gender of nouns and how to use them correctly in sentences.
}}


== Sources ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shona_language Shona_language]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shona_phonology Shona_phonology]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_in_grammar Gender in grammar]


==Related Lessons==
* [[Language/Shona/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]
* [[Language/Shona/Grammar/Negation|Negation]]
* [[Language/Shona/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
* [[Language/Shona/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]]
* [[Language/Shona/Grammar/Plurals|Plurals]]
* [[Language/Shona/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]]


{{#seo:
|title=Learn about Gender in Shona Grammar
|keywords=Shona grammar, gender, masculine, feminine, augmentative, diminutive, agreement markers, shona culture, gender-neutral pronouns
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about gender in Shona, its various classes and how it affects the way words are modified and constructed in sentences in Shona.
}}


{{Shona-Page-Bottom}}
{{Shona-Page-Bottom}}

Revision as of 17:51, 4 March 2023

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Shona Grammar - Gender

Hi Shona learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about gender in Shona language. Gender is an important feature in Shona that affects nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and even agreement markers.

What is gender in Shona?

In Shona, gender is a grammatical category that classifies nouns into four categories: the masculine, feminine, diminutive, and augmentative. Gender is important because it affects the way words are modified and constructed in sentences in Shona.

Gender classes

Shona has four gender classes:

Masculine Gender (ravaro)

This is the gender class that is mostly associated with male persons, objects, and animals. Nouns in this class include wakadzi (man), bhero (bull), and tandara (iron).

Feminine Gender (rave)

The feminine gender class is mostly associated with female persons, objects, and animals. Nouns in this class include mukadzi (woman), mbudzi (goat), and mhanzi (horse).

Augmentative Gender (rahu)

The augmentative gender class is used to refer to large, heavy or important objects, animals, or persons. Nouns in this class include chitova (elephant), mapurisa (police officers), and chitongwizo (king).

Diminutive Gender (radiki)

The diminutive gender class is used to refer to small or young animals, objects, or persons. This class includes musana (young person), gotsi (calf), and mhuru (chicken).

How to identify gender in Shona

Usually, in Shona, the gender of a noun can be identified by the prefix that precedes it, as well as the tone of the word.

Shona Pronunciation English
murume (masculine) m̩ɔrʊme man
shamwari (feminine) ʃamwari female friend
chikafu (masculine) t͡ʃɪkafu food
nyama (feminine) ɲama meat
huni (diminutive) hʊni small grain
huge (augmentative) hʊge huge rock

Agreement markers

In Shona, agreement markers agree with the noun class of the subject of the sentence. The agreement markers are prefixes added to the verb and adjectives. For example:

  • Murume a-rimwe (The man is one)
  • Muroyi a-one? (Who is he/she?)

Here, the prefix a- is added to the verb to agree with the noun class.

Culture and interesting facts

In Shona culture, gender plays a significant role in many aspects of life. For example, in traditional Shona society, male and female roles were clearly defined. Men were expected to hunt, farm, and build, while women were expected to cook, take care of children, and perform other domestic duties. However, with modernization, these societal roles have begun to change.

Another interesting fact about Shona gender is the use of gender-neutral pronouns. In modern times, some Shona people have begun to use the pronoun "wo" instead of the traditional gendered pronouns. This change is still controversial in Shona society.

Examples

Here are some examples of a dialogue in Shona to illustrate gender:

  • Person 1: Makorokoto, murume. (Congratulations, man)
  • Person 2: Ndaita hwo? (What did I do?)
  • Person 1: Uchadya chikafu. (You will eat food)

Conclusion

In conclusion, gender is an important aspect of the Shona language. It affects the way we construct sentences, modify words and interpret meanings. To improve your understanding of Shona gender, try speaking with native Shona speakers on Polyglot Club!

Sources