Cisani
Clothing / cloth
Usage
Clothing or cloth; the plural "zisani" is used for laundry
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun (prefix ci-); the plural is the class 8 "zisani"
Kuwasya
To wash (clothes)
Usage
Washing clothes; other words are used for washing the body or dishes
Grammar Note
A verb infinitive, beginning with ku-; the root is "-wasya". Do not confuse it with "kugwasya" (to help). "Sikuwasya" is also used for a person who washes clothes
Ndiyanda kuwasya zisani zyangu.
I want to wash my clothes.
Usage
Tells hosts or hotel staff that you want to do laundry
Grammar Note
"Zisani" is a class 8 plural noun, so "my" is "zyangu". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Kusanzya
To wash / to clean
Usage
Washing things such as feet, cups, or a body
Grammar Note
A verb infinitive, beginning with ku-; the root is "-sanzya". For washing clothes, "kuwasya" is used
Kusamba
To wash oneself / to bathe
Usage
Washing your own body or face
Grammar Note
A verb infinitive, beginning with ku-; the root is "-samba". Do not confuse it with "kusambala" (to sell)
Insipa
Soap
Usage
Soap for washing the body or clothes
Grammar Note
A noun beginning with in- (the form with the initial i-). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended
Kuyuma
To dry
Usage
Becoming dry, as washing does; it is also used for plants withering
Grammar Note
A verb infinitive, beginning with ku-; the root is "-yuma", which also means "become hard"
Kuyanika
Drying (spreading out to dry)
Usage
Spreading washed things out to dry
Grammar Note
A verbal noun beginning with ku-; the root is "-yanika" (spread out to dry). Attested in dictionary only; native review recommended
More Tonga (Zambia) phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
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