Photography

1. Ndingathatha umfanekiso wakho?

   Ndi-nga-thatha um-fanekiso wa-kho?

   Can I take your photo?

   Usage

   Asking permission before taking someone's photo

   Grammar Note

   ndi-nga- is the first-person potential prefix meaning "I can"

2. Akuvumelekanga ukufota.

   A-ku-vu-me-le-kan-ga u-ku-fo-ta.

   Photography is not allowed.

   Usage

   Informing someone that photography is prohibited

   Grammar Note

   akuvumelekanga is the negative form meaning "is not allowed"; ukufota (taking photos) is the subject

3. Unganceda undifotografe?

   U-nga-nceda u-ndi-foto-grafe?

   Could you take a photo of me?

   Usage

   Asking someone to take your photo

   Grammar Note

   u-nga-nceda means "could you help" forming a polite request

4. Umfanekiso awucacanga.

   Um-fanekiso a-wu-ca-ca-nga.

   The photo is blurry.

   Usage

   Telling someone the photo came out blurry

   Grammar Note

   awucacanga is the negative of caca (to be clear), "is not clear"; a-wu- agrees with umfanekiso (class 3)

5. Le ndawo iyindawo entle yokufota.

   Le ndawo i-yi-ndawo en-tle yo-ku-fota.

   This is a beautiful place for photography.

   Usage

   Describing a great location for photography

   Grammar Note

   yokufota means "for photography" linking yo- (for) with ukufota (to take photos)

6. Undinike ikhopi yomfanekiso?

   U-ndi-nike i-khopi yo-m-fanekiso?

   Can you give me a copy of the photo?

   Usage

   Asking for a copy of a photo that was taken

   Grammar Note

   undinike is the imperative "give me" (u-ndi-nike)

7. Ndifuna umfanekiso we-selfie.

   Ndi-funa um-fanekiso we-selfie.

   I want to take a selfie.

   Usage

   Expressing the desire to take a selfie

   Grammar Note

   ndifuna means "I want" and is followed by the noun or infinitive

8. Ngaba kukho ukukhanya okwaneleyo?

   Nga-ba ku-kho u-ku-khanya o-kwa-neleyo?

   Is there enough light?

   Usage

   Checking if there is sufficient lighting for a photo

   Grammar Note

   ngaba is the Xhosa particle that introduces yes/no questions

9. Ndingawukhanyisa umfanekiso?

   Ndi-nga-wu-khanyisa um-fanekiso?

   Can I brighten the photo?

   Usage

   Asking about editing the brightness of a photo

   Grammar Note

   wu- is the object concord for um- class nouns (referring to umfanekiso)

10. Ndicela ujonge nje apha.

    Ndi-cela u-jonge nje a-pha.

    Please just look this way.

    Usage

    Directing a subject to look in a certain direction for a photo

    Grammar Note

    ndicela followed by a verb forms a polite request "please do..."

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