Traveling with Kids

1. Igama lakho ngubani?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   Ask a child their name

   Grammar Note

   igama (name, class 5) + lakho (your) + ngubani (who is it). The question uses who, not what. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Bangaki abantwana bakho?

   How many children do you have?

   Usage

   Ask how many children someone has as small talk

   Grammar Note

   ba-ngaki (how many) + abantwana (children) + ba-kho (your). How many is ngaki with the class prefix ba-. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Umntwana wami uneminyaka emihlanu.

   My child is five years old.

   Usage

   State a child's age, which matters for fares and lodging rates

   Grammar Note

   umntwana (child) + wami (my) + u-ne-minyaka (has years) + emihlanu (five). Age is expressed as having years. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Umntwana wami ulambile.

   My child is hungry.

   Usage

   Say your child is hungry when asking for food

   Grammar Note

   umntwana (child) + wami (my) + u-lambile (is hungry). Lambile is a perfect form describing a present state

5. Umntwana wami uyagula.

   My child is ill.

   Usage

   Say your child is unwell when asking for help

   Grammar Note

   umntwana (child) + wami (my) + u-ya-gula (is ill). Ukugula means to be ill, and patients are called iinguli. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Abantwana bayadlala.

   The children are playing.

   Usage

   Describe children at play

   Grammar Note

   abantwana (children, class 2) + ba-ya-dlala (they play). The subject agreement is ba-, and dlala is the stem for play. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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