Laundry

1. Ngaba kukho indawo yokuwasha impahla apha?

   Nga-ba ku-kho in-dawo yo-ku-washa im-pahla a-pha?

   Is there a laundry place nearby?

   Usage

   Looking for a place to do laundry

   Grammar Note

   ngaba is the Xhosa particle that introduces yes/no questions

2. Iindleko zokuwasha zingakanani?

   I-indleko zo-ku-washa zi-nga-kanani?

   How much does laundry cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price of a laundry service

   Grammar Note

   zingakanani asks "how much" with the izi-class subject concord zi-

3. Ndifuna ukuwashela impahla yam.

   Ndi-funa u-ku-washela im-pahla yam.

   I want to have my clothes washed.

   Usage

   Requesting laundry service

   Grammar Note

   -ela is an applicative suffix meaning "to wash for/on behalf of"

4. Impahla yam iyagqwala. Ingaphuma na?

   Im-pahla yam i-ya-gqwala. I-nga-phuma na?

   My clothes have a stain. Can it come out?

   Usage

   Asking if a stain can be removed by washing

   Grammar Note

   ingaphuma means "it can come out" using the i-nga- potential form

5. Impahla yam iza kube ilungile nini?

   Im-pahla yam i-za ku-be i-lungile ni-ni?

   When will my clothes be ready?

   Usage

   Asking when the laundry will be ready for pick-up

   Grammar Note

   iza kube is the future "will be" (i-za ku-be)

6. Ngaba ukuwasha ngomchini kukhona?

   Nga-ba u-ku-washa ngo-m-chini ku-khona?

   Is there a washing machine?

   Usage

   Checking if a washing machine is available

   Grammar Note

   kukhona means "there is/exists" (ku + khona)

7. Ndifuna ukwayina impahla yam.

   Ndi-funa u-kwa-yina im-pahla yam.

   I want my clothes ironed.

   Usage

   Requesting ironing service

   Grammar Note

   ukupheka means "to cook", never "to iron". Ironing uses the loan verb ukwayina (from English "iron")

8. Ngaba le sepha iyasebenza?

   Nga-ba le se-pha i-ya-se-benza?

   Does this detergent work?

   Usage

   Asking if a detergent is effective

   Grammar Note

   Ngaba is the sentence-initial yes/no question marker. Do not use ubisi (milk) for detergent

9. Ndifuna ukuwasha ngezandla.

   Ndi-funa u-ku-washa nge-zandla.

   I want to hand-wash.

   Usage

   Asking to hand-wash delicate items

   Grammar Note

   nge is the instrumental preposition meaning "with/by using"

10. Impahla yam iyomile ngoku.

    Im-pahla yam i-yomile ngoku.

    My clothes are dry now.

    Usage

    Confirming that the laundry has dried

    Grammar Note

    iyomile is the perfect form meaning "is dry/has dried"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages