Post Office

1. Iposofisi ikuphi?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Asks where the nearest post office is

   Grammar Note

   "(noun) + ikuphi" asks where something is; for plural things it becomes zikuphi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Ngifuna ukuthumela incwadi e-Japan.

   I want to send a letter to Japan.

   Usage

   Tells the clerk you want to send a letter to Japan

   Grammar Note

   ngifuna (I want) + ukuthumela (to send) + incwadi (letter) + e- (to) + place name; a foreign place name is joined to e- with a hyphen and keeps its capital. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ibhokisi leposo likuphi?

   Where is the post box?

   Usage

   Asks where to find a post box for dropping a letter

   Grammar Note

   ibhokisi (box) + le- (of) + iposo (post) gives "post box"; ibhokisi takes the li- agreement, so the question is likuphi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Kuzakuthatha isikhathi esingangani kobana incwadi ifike e-Japan?

   How long will it take for the letter to reach Japan?

   Usage

   Asks how long a letter takes to arrive abroad

   Grammar Note

   kuzakuthatha isikhathi esingangani (how much time will it take) is followed by kobana (that) + the subjunctive ifike (arrive). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Ngifuna ukuthumela iphasela.

   I want to send a parcel.

   Usage

   Tells the clerk you want to send a parcel

   Grammar Note

   iphasela is a loanword from English parcel; the plural is amaphasela. No word for express delivery was confirmed, so none is given here. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Iphasela lami lifikile?

   Has my parcel arrived?

   Usage

   Asks whether a parcel you are expecting has arrived

   Grammar Note

   iphasela takes the li- agreement, so lami (my) and lifikile (has arrived) match it. Raise the pitch at the end to make it a question. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ukuthumela iphasela leli kubiza malini?

   How much does it cost to send this parcel?

   Usage

   Asks the cost of posting a parcel

   Grammar Note

   "infinitive + kubiza malini" asks what an action costs. leli is "this" for li- class nouns. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Iposofisi ivula nini?

   What time does the post office open?

   Usage

   Asks when the post office opens

   Grammar Note

   "(place) + ivula nini" asks when it opens; nini means "when", so it asks for the opening time. For closing, use ivala nini

Browse all TravelPhrases languages