Question Words

1. Ncinzi?

   What?

   Usage

   To ask what something is called or what it is; pointing helps

   Grammar Note

   The question word for "what"; it combines with demonstratives (ncinzi eeci, what is this) and often follows ino at the start of a question

2. Ino ncinzi eeci?

   What is this?

   Usage

   To ask about an unfamiliar object or dish

   Grammar Note

   ino opens a question that uses a question word; eeci points at a ci- class thing, so the demonstrative changes for nouns of other classes. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ino eeci caamba nzi?

   What does this mean?

   Usage

   To ask the meaning of a sign or a word

   Grammar Note

   caamba means says or means; nzi is the sentence-final form of "what" used alongside ncinzi

4. Ino uunka kuli?

   Where are you going?

   Usage

   To ask a friend or a younger person where they are heading

   Grammar Note

   uunka is u- (you) + unka (go); kuli means where to

5. Ino muunka kuli?

   Where are you going?

   Usage

   To politely ask an elder or a stranger where they are heading

   Grammar Note

   mu- is the polite second person; with a close friend use uunka instead. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Ino nguni ooyu?

   Who is this person?

   Usage

   To ask about a person you do not know, or someone in a photo

   Grammar Note

   nguni means who; ooyu points at a person (mu- class), and the pattern ino nguni ooyo (who is that man) also exists. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ino nduwe ni?

   Who are you?

   Usage

   To ask someone who they are; it can sound blunt, so keep it for casual situations

   Grammar Note

   nduwe is the emphatic "you"; the sentence-final ni means who

8. Ino ndinywe bani?

   Who are you?

   Usage

   To politely ask a stranger who they are

   Grammar Note

   ndinywe is the emphatic plural "you", used to address someone politely; bani is the plural form of who

9. Ciindi nzi?

   What time?

   Usage

   To ask the time or the time something happens

   Grammar Note

   ciindi means time and nzi what; the same pair is used inside longer questions such as "what time do you get up"

10. Ino nkaambo nzi?

    Why?

    Usage

    To ask for a reason

    Grammar Note

    nkaambo means reason or because; ino nkaambo nzi is the usual way to say why

11. Lili?

    When?

    Usage

    To ask when something happens, such as a departure or an opening

    Grammar Note

    The question word for "when", placed at the end of a sentence as in ino ulabuka lili? (when will you get up)

12. Ino mujisi zinkwa zyongaye?

    How many loaves do you have?

    Usage

    A pattern for asking how many of something there are; swap zinkwa for another noun at a bakery or market

    Grammar Note

    zyongaye means how many and its first letters change with the noun class (zinkwa is zi- class); mujisi is mu- (you) + jisi (have)

13. Ino mujisi myaka yongaye?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    To politely ask someone's age

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how many years do you have"; myaka (years) is mi- class, so how many is yongaye. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. Ncinzi ncomuyanda?

    What would you like?

    Usage

    To politely ask what someone wants, for example in a shop or a guesthouse

    Grammar Note

    ncomuyanda is a relative form meaning "what you want"; it is the first half of ncinzi ncomuyanda kuti ndimucitile? (what do you want me to do). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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