Post Office

1. Iposi likuphi?

   I-posi li-kuphi?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to the post office

   Grammar Note

   likuphi asks "where is it" using the li- class concord + kuphi (where)

2. Ndifuna ukuthumela iphakiti eMzantsi Afrika.

   Ndi-funa u-ku-thumela i-phakiti e-Mzantsi Afrika.

   I want to send a parcel to South Africa.

   Usage

   Requesting to send a parcel at the post office

   Grammar Note

   e- is the locative prefix meaning "to/in/at" a place

3. Ixabiso lokuthumela incwadi eJapan limalini?

   I-xabiso lo-ku-thumela i-ncwadi eJapan li-malini?

   How much does it cost to send a letter to Japan?

   Usage

   Asking about the postage for an international letter

   Grammar Note

   malini is the question word "how much money"

4. Ndifuna izitampu ezimbini.

   Ndi-funa i-zi-tampu e-zimbini.

   I need two stamps.

   Usage

   Buying stamps at the post office

   Grammar Note

   ezimbini means "two" with the izi-class adjective concord e-

5. Kuyakuthatha ixesha elingakanani ukufika?

   Ku-ya-ku-thatha i-xesha e-li-nga-kanani u-ku-fika?

   How long will it take to arrive?

   Usage

   Asking about delivery time

   Grammar Note

   kuyakuthatha is the future tense "it will take" (ku-ya-ku-thatha)

6. Ndifuna ukuthumela ngendlela eyakhawuleza.

   Ndi-funa u-ku-thumela nge-ndlela e-ya-khawuleza.

   I want to send it by express delivery.

   Usage

   Requesting express mail service

   Grammar Note

   eyakhawuleza means "that is fast" as a relative clause modifying ndlela (way)

7. Ndingafumana inombolo yokulandela na?

   Ndi-nga-fumana i-nombolo yo-ku-landela na?

   Can I get a tracking number?

   Usage

   Asking for a tracking number for a shipment

   Grammar Note

   ndingafumana means "I can get/receive" using the potential prefix ndi-nga-

8. Eli phakiti lixabisa malini?

   E-li i-phakiti li-xabisa ma-lini?

   How much does this parcel weigh/cost?

   Usage

   Asking the weight or cost of a parcel

   Grammar Note

   lixabisa is the verb "costs/weighs" with the li-class subject concord

9. Ndifuna ibhokisi yeposi.

   Ndi-funa i-bhokisi ye-posi.

   I need a post office box.

   Usage

   Asking about a P.O. box service

   Grammar Note

   yeposi is the possessive "of the post office" (ye + iposi)

10. Ingaba iposi livulekile namhlanje?

    I-nga-ba i-posi li-vulekile na-m-hlanje?

    Is the post office open today?

    Usage

    Asking if the post office is open today

    Grammar Note

    ingaba is a variant of ngaba that introduces yes/no questions

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