Colors

1. Umbala obovu

   Red

   Usage

   Names the colour red when describing something

   Grammar Note

   umbala (colour) is followed by the agreeing form obovu (red). Colours are named as "umbala + adjective"; the first vowel changes with the noun class, as in ebovu and ibovu; obomvu is also used

2. Umbala osarulani

   Yellow

   Usage

   Names the colour yellow when describing something

   Grammar Note

   umbala (colour) is followed by osarulani (yellow). The first vowel of sarulani changes with the noun class (esarulani, asarulani)

3. Umbala ohlaza

   Green

   Usage

   Names the colour green when describing something

   Grammar Note

   umbala (colour) is followed by ohlaza (green). The first vowel changes with the noun class, as in ehlaza and ihlaza; grass green is also called ihlaza satjani

4. Umbala ohlaza okwesibhakabhaka

   Blue

   Usage

   Names the colour blue (the colour of the sky) when describing something

   Grammar Note

   Blue is expressed as "sky green": ohlaza (green) + okwesibhakabhaka (of the sky)

5. Umbala omhlophe

   White

   Usage

   Names the colour white when describing something

   Grammar Note

   umbala (colour) is followed by omhlophe (white). The first vowel changes with the noun class, as in emhlophe and imhlophe

6. Umbala onzima

   Black

   Usage

   Names the colour black of an object. Use it for things only, never to describe people

   Grammar Note

   umbala (colour) is followed by onzima (black). The stem is also used in words for groups of people, so do not use it for people

7. Umbala o-orentji

   Orange

   Usage

   Names the colour orange when describing something

   Grammar Note

   orentji is a loanword from English orange. The agreement o- is written with a hyphen before the vowel (o-orentji)

8. Umbala opinki

   Pink

   Usage

   Names the colour pink when describing something

   Grammar Note

   pinki is a loanword from English pink. The agreement changes with the noun class, as in elipinki and apinki

9. Umbala ozotho

   Brown

   Usage

   Names the colour brown when describing something

   Grammar Note

   umbala (colour) is followed by ozotho (brown). The form changes with the noun class, e.g. elizotho in ephepha elizotho (brown paper)

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