This document provides an overview of Zulu noun classes through examples. It explains that Zulu nouns are divided into classes based on their prefixes, with each class having a distinct singular and plural prefix. There are 15 noun classes described through charts and examples. The key points are: - Noun classes determine verb agreement and sentence structure. - Classes are defined by their singular and plural prefixes like um- and aba- for Class 1. - Classes refer to either personal or impersonal nouns and have predictable plural formations. - Memorizing classes is important for correctly forming verbs and sentences.

1. 25 out of 50
MILLION
SOUTH AFRICANS

2. SPEAK ZULU
Sanibonani

4. Noun
The Zulu noun
determines the structure
of the rest of the sentence so it
makes sense to start here with our
study of the Zulu language
You may prefer a
less colourful
chart

5. Just as
In nature
every stem has its
flower …..

6. In Zulu ….
every noun stem has
a prefix

7. Prefix “um” with stem “fana”
a/the boy
umfana

8. BUT ….
Now….
Yiqiniso!
It is the truth!
notice how
the plural is made by
changing the prefix

9. Prefix “aba” with stem “fana”
the boys
abafana

10. BUT ….
And….
umlimi
the farmer
notice how a
particular singular
prefix always changes to
the same plural prefix and
vice versa

11. Singular prefix
“um”
changes to plural prefix
“aba”

12. like this ….
a/the farmer
umlimi
the farmers
abalimi

13. and this ….
a/the woman
umfazi
the women
abafazi

14. or this ….
(this one is a little unusual)
a/the person
umuntu
the people
abantu

15. Which will it be ?
Definite … or indefinite?
umfana
the boy
or
a boy

16. BUT ….
“a” & “the”
amadoda
The definite article –
the men
“the” and the indefinite
article – “a” do not exist in
Exact translations
or meanings are
determined by context.
Zulu.

17. Lets try some
nouns with a
different prefix.
Like this …
a/the opportunity
ithuba
the opportunities
amathuba

18. and this ….
a/the table
itafula
the tables
amatafula

19. or this ….
a/the policeman
iphoyisa
the policemen
amaphoyisa

20. “i” prefix + stem
“ama “ prefix + stem
We can say that
when the noun has the
prefix “i” it will be singular and
it will be replaced by the prefix
“ama” in the plural.

21. Singular classes
Plural classes
Zulu Nouns have
been placed into classes
based on their prefixes. With
practice you will learn to
recognise them easily.

22. Singular classes
Plural classes
Zulu Nouns have
been placed into classes
based on their prefixes. With
practice you will learn to
recognise them easily.
You have already seen
that a specific singular
prefix will take a specific
plural

23. “UM”
“ABA”
CLASS 1
CLASS 2
um + noun stem
umngane
friend
aba + noun stem
abangane
friends

24. Class 1
Singular prefix
um
Class 2
Plural prefix
aba
umngane
friend
abangane
umfowethu
brother
abafowethu
brothers
umntwana
a/the child
abantwana
the children
The nouns in Class 1 all refer to a person and they have a plural in Class 2.
friends

25. CLASS 1
CLASS 2
“UM”
“ABA”
abafowethu
my brothers
Can you predict how you would say “my brother”?
Tip: Replace the plural prefix with the singular prefix of the correct class

26. CLASS 1
CLASS 2
“UM”
“ABA”
abafowethu
my brothers
abafowethu – my brothers (plural prefix “aba”)
umfowethu – my brother (singular prefix “um”)

27. “U”
“O”
CLASS 1a
CLASS 2a
u + noun stem
ubaba
my father
o + noun stem
obaba
our fathers

28. Class 1a
Singular prefix
u
Class 2a
Plural prefix
o
ubaba
my father
obaba
our fathers
umama
my mother
omama
our mothers
uthisha
the teacher
othisha
the teachers

29. CLASS 1a “U”
CLASS 2a “O”
udokotela
the doctor
Can you predict how you would say “the doctors”?
Tip: Replace the singular prefix with the plural prefix of the corresponding class

30. CLASS 1a “U”
CLASS 2a “O”
udokotela
the doctor
udokotela – the doctor (singular prefix “u”)
odokotela – (plural prefix “o”)

31. “UM”
“IMI”
CLASS 3
CLASS 4
um + noun stem
umfula
river
imi + noun stem
imifula
rivers

32. Class 3
Singular prefix
um
umlomo
Class 4
Plural prefix
imi
mouth
imilomo
mouths
umkhonto
spear
imikhonto
spears
umsebenzi
work
imisebenzi
types of work
If the prefix is “um” and it is NOT a personal noun the plural will be from Class 4

33. CLASS 3
CLASS 4
“um”
“imi”
umshini
the machine
Can you guess how you would say “the machines”?
Tip: Replace the singular prefix with the plural prefix of the corresponding class

34. CLASS 3
CLASS 4
umshini
the machine
umshini – (singular prefix “um”)
Imishini – (plural prefix “imi”)
“um”
“imi”

35. Noun
Have you noticed
that classes 1 and 3
have the same singular
prefix – “um”?
You may prefer a
less colourful
chart

36. Noun
All Class 1
nouns refer to persons;
brother, boy, person,
while Class 3 nouns refer to
impersonal things;
knife, mouth, machine
You may prefer a
less colourful
chart

37. “i”
“AMA”
CLASS 5
CLASS 6
i + noun stem
ama + noun stem
ikhaya
amakhaya
home
homes

38. Class 5
Singular prefix
i
Class 6
Plural prefix
ama
ikhaya
home
amakhaya
homes
ibhasi
bus
amabhasi
busses
ivila
lazy person
amavila
lazy people

39. Class 6
Plural prefix
Some examples
From Class 6
Where there is no
singular
ama
amandla
amanzi
amafutha
strength/power
water
fat

40. CLASS 5
CLASS 6
“I”
“AMA”
amavila
the lazy people
Can you guess how you would say the lazy person”?
Tip: Replace the plural prefix with the singular prefix of the corresponding class

41. CLASS 5
CLASS 6
amavila
the lazy people
amavila – (plural prefix “ama”)
ivila – (singular prefix “I”)
“I”
“AMA”

42. “isi”
CLASS 7
isi + noun stem
isikhathi
time
“izi”
CLASS 8
izi + noun stem
izikhathi
times

43. Class 7
Singular prefix
isi
isikole
isikhathi
isisebenzi
Class 8
Plural prefix
izi
school
time
servant
izikole
izikhathi
izisebenzi
schools
times
servants

44. CLASS 7
CLASS 8
“ISI”
“IZI”
izitolo
The shops!
Can you guess how you would say “the shop”?
Tip: Replace the plural prefix with the singular prefix of the corresponding class

45. CLASS 7
CLASS 8
izitolo
The shops!
izitolo – (plural prefix “izi”)
isitolo – (singular prefix “isi”)
“ISI”
“IZI”

46. “in/im”
“izin/izim”
CLASS 9
CLASS 10
In/im + noun stem
indlu
imoto
hut
car
izin/izim + noun stem
izindlu
izimoto
huts
cars

47. Class 9
Singular prefix
Class 10
in/im
Plural prefix
izin/izim
indlu
imoto
indaba
hut
izindlu
huts
motor car
izimoto
motor cars
matter
izindaba
matters

48. An
BUT ….
Exception
indaba
matter
Occasionally a
class 9 will take a
plural in class 6

49. Class 9
Singular prefix
Class 6
in/im
Plural prefix
ama
indoda
man
amadoda
men
inkosi
chief
amakhosi
chiefs

50. CLASS 9 “IN/IM”
CLASS10 “IZIN/IZIM”
intombazana
The girl!
Can you guess how you would say “the girls”?
Tip: Replace the singular prefix with the plural prefix of the corresponding class

51. CLASS 9 “IN/IM”
CLASS10 “IZIN/IZIM”
intombazana
The girl!
intombazana – (singular prefix “in”)
izintombazana – (plural prefix “izin”)

52. Noun
Class 11 nouns
begin with prefix
” u”
which we also find in Class
2a.

53. Noun
However Class 11
nouns are impersonal
AND
they take the plural prefix
from Class 10

54. “U”
“izin/izim”
CLASS 11
CLASS 10
u + noun stem
ukhezo
ufudu
the spoon
the tortoise
izin/izim + noun stem
izinkezo
the spoons
izimfudu
the tortoises

55. Class 11
Singular prefix
Class 10
u
Plural prefix
izin/izim
ukhuni
firewood
izinkuni
pieces of firewood
ukhezo
spoon
izinkezo
spoons
ufudu
tortoise
izimfudu
tortoises

56. CLASS 11
CLASS 10
“U”
“IZIN/IZIM”
izinkuni
The pieces of firewood!
Can you guess how you would say “the firewood”?
Tip: Replace the plural prefix with the singular prefix of the corresponding class

57. CLASS 11
CLASS 10
“U”
“IZIN/IZIM”
izinkuni
The pieces of firewood!
izinkuni – (plural prefix “izin”)
ukhuni – (sigular prefix “u “)
Notice the “h” in the singular stem “khuni” is dropped in the plural to become plural stem
“kuni”

58. BUT ….
Note….
There are no
Classes 12 and 13 in Zulu.
These classes apply to other
languages in the family of
languages to which Zulu
belongs

59. ubusuku
Ubuntu is a word you will often hear with
respect to the rainbow nation. It is difficult to
translate precisely, but has to do with
humanity putting aside their differences and
all getting along together. Nelson Mandela
has been a leading force in fostering the spirit
of “Ubuntu” in South Africa and abroad.
the night!
CLASS 14 “UBU”
ubu + noun stem
Class 14 nouns have no plural and
are often known as neutral nouns
ubuntu
Spirit of humanity, human nature, values reflective of a culture

60. Class 14
No plurals
for Class 14
Singular prefix
ubu
ubuntu
ubudoda
ubuhlungu
spirit of humanity, human nature, cultural values
manhood
pain

61. This is the last of our classes of noun prefixes
in the Zulu Language. With practice you will
become familiar with them and be able to
use them automatically. And from here we
can progress to simple sentences.
ukudla
The food!
CLASS 15 “UKU”
uku + noun stem
ukudla
the food
There are very few Class 15 nouns

62. Class 15
Nouns in this class
are very rare
Singular prefix
uku
ukudla
the food
ukudla
food

63. Noun
It is important to
memorise the noun classes
both singular and plural as the
VERB in a sentence must
ALWAYS agree with the
noun class
So let’s look at
them again in a
consolidated chart

64. Noun
Prefixes
Prefixes
Plural classes
Singular Classes
1. um (personal nouns)
2. aba
1a. u (personal nouns)
2a. o
3. um (impersonal nouns)
4. imi
5. i
6. ama
7. isi
8. izi
9. in/im
10. izin/izim
11. u (takes plural in Class 10)
10.
14. ubu
15. uku

65. You may prefer a
more colourful
chart

66. Singular Prefix Class
1
1a
NOUNS
um
u
Plural Prefix Class
2
2a
aba
o
3
um
4
imi
5
i
6
ama
7
isi
8
izi
9
in/im
10
izin/izim
11
u
10
izin/izim
14
ubu
15
uku

67. Noun
In the next session
you will learn how to make
the verb AGREE with the noun
class and enjoy making simple
Zulu sentences
Such as this
one ….

68. Sifunda
isiZulu!
We are
studying
isiZulu!

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