zi-

See also: zi, ZI, Zi., zí, zì, zī, and zǐ

Northern Ndebele

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the prefix of class 10, it replaced the class 8 prefix as well.

Prefix

zi-

1. they; class 8 subject concord.
2. them; class 8 object concord.
3. they; class 10 subject concord.
4. them; class 10 object concord.

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the prefix of class 10, it replaced the class 8 prefix as well.

Prefix

zi-

1. they; class 8 subject concord.
2. them; class 8 object concord.
3. they; class 10 subject concord.
4. them; class 10 object concord.

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the prefix of class 10, it replaced the class 8 prefix as well.

Prefix

zi-

1. they; class 8 subject concord.
2. them; class 8 object concord.
3. they; class 10 subject concord.
4. them; class 10 object concord.

Zulu

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *bì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.

Prefix

zi-

1. Class 8 simple noun prefix.
2. Class 10 simple noun prefix, used when preceding a consonant n, m, or l.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the prefix of class 10, it replaced the class 8 prefix as well.

Prefix

zí-

1. they; class 8 subject concord.
2. them; class 8 object concord.
3. they; class 10 subject concord.
4. them; class 10 object concord.

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “zi-”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “zi-”