Bemba – Ukunwa – kitweonline

In this lesson on How to Ask a Question in Bemba, we look at the verb “Drink” (Nwa). To drink = Ukunwa

Note:

• Mu ciBemba (In Bemba) the same words are used to refer to a man and to a woman (He / She).
• In the following examples, remember that the plural form (pl.) is used to address one person as a sign of respect. (The plural form of “You”).
• The words  Ninshi / Cinshi / Finshi are sometimes used interchangeably, but they mean different things:
• “Ninshi” to refer to “What is it?”
• “Cinshi”  is used when you are referring to one thing, e.g “What one thing have I done?”
• “Finshi.” is used to refer to more than one thing, eg. “What things have I done?”

Drink = Nwa

(You can use “Ninshi”(What is it), “Cinshi” (What thing) or “Finshi” (What things) wherever  each of them is used below).

PRESENT TENSE:

What have I drunk? = Finshi nali nanwa?
What have you drunk? = Finshi munwine? (pl.) / Finshi unwine? (sing.)
What has she drunk? = Finshi anwine?
What has he drunk? = Finshi anwine?
What have they drunk? = Finshi banwine?

What does she drink? = Finshi anwa?
What does he drink? = Finshi anwa?
What do they drink? = Finshi banwa?

Listen to Audio: Bemba Lesson – To Drink – Present Tense

PAST TENSE:

What did I drink? =  Finshi nanwine?
What did you drink? (sing.) =  Finshi wanwine?
What did you drink? (pl.) =  Finshi mwanwine?
What did he / she drink? (sing.) =  Finshi anwine?
What did he / she drink? (pl.) =  Finshi banwine?
What did they drink? =  Finshi banwine?

Listen to Audio:  Bemba Lesson – To Drink – Past Tense

FUTURE TENSE:

What will I drink? = Finshi nkanwa?
What will you drink? (sing.) = Finshi ukanwa?
What will you drink? (pl.) = Finshi mukanwa?
What will he / she drink? (sing.) = Finshi akanwa?
What will he / she drink? (pl.) =  Finshi bakanwa?
What will they drink? = Finshi bakanwa?

Listen to Audio: Bemba Lesson – To Drink – Future Tense

Look out for further lessons from the 15.00 series.

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