isiNgisi

Zulu

Etymology

From isi- +‎ iNgisi. Cognate with Xhosa ísíNgêsi (“English (language)”), Swahili Kiingereza (“English (language)”), Tumbuka Cingelezi (“English (language)”) and Chichewa Chingerezi (“English (language)”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ísinɡíːsi/

Noun

ísiNgísi class 7

1. English language
   • 2026, “Mr. Jambo”, Kyle Gordon and Mandla Dlamini (lyrics), performed by Barry Bergen (Kyle's parody alter ego):

     Angikhulumi isiNgisi / unaye umhumushi?

     I don’t speak English / do you have a translator?

Inflection

Class 7 (locative esiNgisini)

	singular		plural
full form	isiNgisi		—
simple form	siNgisi		—
locative	esiNgisini		—
copulative	yisiNgisi		—
Possessive forms
	singular		plural
	modifier	substantive	modifier	substantive
class 1	wesiNgisi	owesiNgisi	—	—
class 2	besiNgisi	abesiNgisi	—	—
class 3	wesiNgisi	owesiNgisi	—	—
class 4	yesiNgisi	eyesiNgisi	—	—
class 5	lesiNgisi	elesiNgisi	—	—
class 6	esiNgisi	awesiNgisi	—	—
class 7	sesiNgisi	esesiNgisi	—	—
class 8	zesiNgisi	ezesiNgisi	—	—
class 9	yesiNgisi	eyesiNgisi	—	—
class 10	zesiNgisi	ezesiNgisi	—	—
class 11	lwesiNgisi	olwesiNgisi	—	—
class 14	besiNgisi	obesiNgisi	—	—
class 15	kwesiNgisi	okwesiNgisi	—	—
class 17	kwesiNgisi	okwesiNgisi	—	—

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “-ngisi”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “-ngisi (2.6.3.9)”