Culture & Etiquette

1. Mwapoleni, mukwai!

   Hello, sir / madam!

   Usage

   A respectful greeting for elders, seniors and people you meet for the first time

   Grammar Note

   "Mwapoleni" is a polite greeting in the plural form, and adding "mukwai" shows more respect. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Abantu baleshana.

   People are dancing.

   Usage

   Describes people dancing at a celebration or gathering

   Grammar Note

   "-le-" marks an ongoing action and "ba-" is the subject marker for the class 2 noun abantu. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; attested only in conversational text; native review recommended

3. Ukushana

   To dance / dancing

   Usage

   Dancing; often heard at celebrations

   Grammar Note

   A verb infinitive, beginning with uku-; "ukucinda" is also used for dancing. Attested only in conversational text; native review recommended

4. Inyimbo

   Songs / music

   Usage

   Songs or music; normally used in the plural

   Grammar Note

   A class 10 plural noun (prefix in-)

5. Ukusefya

   Celebration / festival

   Usage

   A celebration such as a wedding or festival

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive of the verb "celebrate", also used as a noun

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