Firstly, this is a verbal extension.
Secondly, it is the most common of the passive izimpambosi in the language. It is called the Passive extension.
Thirdly, what it does is:
- it allows the subject to experience the action of the verb, which is done by someone or something else (expressed by the copulative of the noun)
Here are some examples explaining what happens to a verb’s meaning when you add this extension. Verbs that are only one syllable or that begin with vowels have to add -IWA (indicated with a *). Verbs whose main stem ends with a bilabial sound undergo a sound-change (indicated with a **)
| original verb | extended version |
| dla* eat a thing consume a thing | dliwa be eaten by something or someone experience consumption [eat + passive] |
| bona see a thing recognise a thing | bonwa be seen by… be spotted or resognised [see + passive] |
| hamba** walk travel | hanjwa experience travel experience walking [walk + passive] |
| sebenza** work fulfil function | setshenzwa experience work [work + passive] |
| azi* know a thing | aziwa be known by [know + passive] |
Generally, the -W- extension allows the verb to be done by someone or something else. However, isiZulu also has a tendency to use the impersonal subject concord KU- together with a passive verb to mean ‘this sort of thing is going on’:
kuyahanjwa? cha, akuhanjwa
are people walking there? No, nobody is walking there.
This is one of the trickiest extensions to understand and use. Expect to be confused most of the time!
As with the -IS- extension, whatever function a word fulfills before adding the impambosi gets incorporated into the new meaning.
If you still have questions, you know where to ask for help!