thomba

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-tòmba.

Verb

-thomba

1. Begin puberty.
2. Rust.
3. Get a film; get a layer of dust.

Inflection

Tone L
Infinitive	ukuthomba
	Positive	Negative
Infinitive	ukuthomba	ukungathombi
	Imperative
	Simple	+ object concord
Singular	thomba	-thombe
Plural	thombani	-thombeni
	Present
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyathomba, ngithomba	engithombayo, engithomba	ngithomba	angithombi	engingathombi	ngingathombi
2nd singular	uyathomba, uthomba	othombayo, othomba	uthomba	awuthombi	ongathombi	ungathombi
1st plural	siyathomba, sithomba	esithombayo, esithomba	sithomba	asithombi	esingathombi	singathombi
2nd plural	niyathomba, nithomba	enithombayo, enithomba	nithomba	anithombi	eningathombi	ningathombi
Class 1	uyathomba, uthomba	othombayo, othomba	ethomba	akathombi	ongathombi	engathombi
Class 2	bayathomba, bathomba	abathombayo, abathomba	bethomba	abathombi	abangathombi	bengathombi
Class 3	uyathomba, uthomba	othombayo, othomba	uthomba	awuthombi	ongathombi	ungathombi
Class 4	iyathomba, ithomba	ethombayo, ethomba	ithomba	ayithombi	engathombi	ingathombi
Class 5	liyathomba, lithomba	elithombayo, elithomba	lithomba	alithombi	elingathombi	lingathombi
Class 6	ayathomba, athomba	athombayo, athomba	ethomba	awathombi	angathombi	engathombi
Class 7	siyathomba, sithomba	esithombayo, esithomba	sithomba	asithombi	esingathombi	singathombi
Class 8	ziyathomba, zithomba	ezithombayo, ezithomba	zithomba	azithombi	ezingathombi	zingathombi
Class 9	iyathomba, ithomba	ethombayo, ethomba	ithomba	ayithombi	engathombi	ingathombi
Class 10	ziyathomba, zithomba	ezithombayo, ezithomba	zithomba	azithombi	ezingathombi	zingathombi
Class 11	luyathomba, luthomba	oluthombayo, oluthomba	luthomba	aluthombi	olungathombi	lungathombi
Class 14	buyathomba, buthomba	obuthombayo, obuthomba	buthomba	abuthombi	obungathombi	bungathombi
Class 15	kuyathomba, kuthomba	okuthombayo, okuthomba	kuthomba	akuthombi	okungathombi	kungathombi
Class 17	kuyathomba, kuthomba	okuthombayo, okuthomba	kuthomba	akuthombi	okungathombi	kungathombi
	Recent past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngithombile, ngithombē	engithombile, engithombē	ngithombile, ngithombē	angithombanga	engingathombanga	ngingathombanga
2nd singular	uthombile, uthombē	othombile, othombē	uthombile, uthombē	awuthombanga	ongathombanga	ungathombanga
1st plural	sithombile, sithombē	esithombile, esithombē	sithombile, sithombē	asithombanga	esingathombanga	singathombanga
2nd plural	nithombile, nithombē	enithombile, enithombē	nithombile, nithombē	anithombanga	eningathombanga	ningathombanga
Class 1	uthombile, uthombē	othombile, othombē	ethombile, ethombē	akathombanga	ongathombanga	engathombanga
Class 2	bathombile, bathombē	abathombile, abathombē	bethombile, bethombē	abathombanga	abangathombanga	bengathombanga
Class 3	uthombile, uthombē	othombile, othombē	uthombile, uthombē	awuthombanga	ongathombanga	ungathombanga
Class 4	ithombile, ithombē	ethombile, ethombē	ithombile, ithombē	ayithombanga	engathombanga	ingathombanga
Class 5	lithombile, lithombē	elithombile, elithombē	lithombile, lithombē	alithombanga	elingathombanga	lingathombanga
Class 6	athombile, athombē	athombile, athombē	ethombile, ethombē	awathombanga	angathombanga	engathombanga
Class 7	sithombile, sithombē	esithombile, esithombē	sithombile, sithombē	asithombanga	esingathombanga	singathombanga
Class 8	zithombile, zithombē	ezithombile, ezithombē	zithombile, zithombē	azithombanga	ezingathombanga	zingathombanga
Class 9	ithombile, ithombē	ethombile, ethombē	ithombile, ithombē	ayithombanga	engathombanga	ingathombanga
Class 10	zithombile, zithombē	ezithombile, ezithombē	zithombile, zithombē	azithombanga	ezingathombanga	zingathombanga
Class 11	luthombile, luthombē	oluthombile, oluthombē	luthombile, luthombē	aluthombanga	olungathombanga	lungathombanga
Class 14	buthombile, buthombē	obuthombile, obuthombē	buthombile, buthombē	abuthombanga	obungathombanga	bungathombanga
Class 15	kuthombile, kuthombē	okuthombile, okuthombē	kuthombile, kuthombē	akuthombanga	okungathombanga	kungathombanga
Class 17	kuthombile, kuthombē	okuthombile, okuthombē	kuthombile, kuthombē	akuthombanga	okungathombanga	kungathombanga
	Remote past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngāthomba	engāthomba	ngāthomba	angithombanga	engingathombanga	ngingathombanga
2nd singular	wāthomba	owāthomba	wāthomba	awuthombanga	ongathombanga	ungathombanga
1st plural	sāthomba	esāthomba	sāthomba	asithombanga	esingathombanga	singathombanga
2nd plural	nāthomba	enāthomba	nāthomba	anithombanga	eningathombanga	ningathombanga
Class 1	wāthomba	owāthomba	āthomba	akathombanga	ongathombanga	engathombanga
Class 2	bāthomba	abāthomba	bāthomba	abathombanga	abangathombanga	bengathombanga
Class 3	wāthomba	owāthomba	wāthomba	awuthombanga	ongathombanga	ungathombanga
Class 4	yāthomba	eyāthomba	yāthomba	ayithombanga	engathombanga	ingathombanga
Class 5	lāthomba	elāthomba	lāthomba	alithombanga	elingathombanga	lingathombanga
Class 6	āthomba	āthomba	āthomba	awathombanga	angathombanga	engathombanga
Class 7	sāthomba	esāthomba	sāthomba	asithombanga	esingathombanga	singathombanga
Class 8	zāthomba	ezāthomba	zāthomba	azithombanga	ezingathombanga	zingathombanga
Class 9	yāthomba	eyāthomba	yāthomba	ayithombanga	engathombanga	ingathombanga
Class 10	zāthomba	ezāthomba	zāthomba	azithombanga	ezingathombanga	zingathombanga
Class 11	lwāthomba	olwāthomba	lwāthomba	aluthombanga	olungathombanga	lungathombanga
Class 14	bāthomba	obāthomba	bāthomba	abuthombanga	obungathombanga	bungathombanga
Class 15	kwāthomba	okwāthomba	kwāthomba	akuthombanga	okungathombanga	kungathombanga
Class 17	kwāthomba	okwāthomba	kwāthomba	akuthombanga	okungathombanga	kungathombanga
	Potential
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngingathomba	—	ngingathomba	ngingethombe	—	ngingethombe
2nd singular	ungathomba	—	ungathomba	ungethombe	—	ungethombe
1st plural	singathomba	—	singathomba	singethombe	—	singethombe
2nd plural	ningathomba	—	ningathomba	ningethombe	—	ningethombe
Class 1	angathomba	—	engathomba	angethombe	—	engethombe
Class 2	bangathomba	—	bengathomba	bangethombe	—	bengethombe
Class 3	ungathomba	—	ungathomba	ungethombe	—	ungethombe
Class 4	ingathomba	—	ingathomba	ingethombe	—	ingethombe
Class 5	lingathomba	—	lingathomba	lingethombe	—	lingethombe
Class 6	angathomba	—	engathomba	angethombe	—	engethombe
Class 7	singathomba	—	singathomba	singethombe	—	singethombe
Class 8	zingathomba	—	zingathomba	zingethombe	—	zingethombe
Class 9	ingathomba	—	ingathomba	ingethombe	—	ingethombe
Class 10	zingathomba	—	zingathomba	zingethombe	—	zingethombe
Class 11	lungathomba	—	lungathomba	lungethombe	—	lungethombe
Class 14	bungathomba	—	bungathomba	bungethombe	—	bungethombe
Class 15	kungathomba	—	kungathomba	kungethombe	—	kungethombe
Class 17	kungathomba	—	kungathomba	kungethombe	—	kungethombe
	Immediate future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngizothomba	engizothomba	ngizothomba	angizuthomba	engingezuthomba	ngingezuthomba
2nd singular	uzothomba	ozothomba	uzothomba	awuzuthomba	ongezuthomba	ungezuthomba
1st plural	sizothomba	esizothomba	sizothomba	asizuthomba	esingezuthomba	singezuthomba
2nd plural	nizothomba	enizothomba	nizothomba	anizuthomba	eningezuthomba	ningezuthomba
Class 1	uzothomba	ozothomba	ezothomba	akazuthomba	ongezuthomba	engezuthomba
Class 2	bazothomba	abazothomba	bezothomba	abazuthomba	abangezuthomba	bengezuthomba
Class 3	uzothomba	ozothomba	uzothomba	awuzuthomba	ongezuthomba	ungezuthomba
Class 4	izothomba	ezothomba	izothomba	ayizuthomba	engezuthomba	ingezuthomba
Class 5	lizothomba	elizothomba	lizothomba	alizuthomba	elingezuthomba	lingezuthomba
Class 6	azothomba	azothomba	ezothomba	awazuthomba	angezuthomba	engezuthomba
Class 7	sizothomba	esizothomba	sizothomba	asizuthomba	esingezuthomba	singezuthomba
Class 8	zizothomba	ezizothomba	zizothomba	azizuthomba	ezingezuthomba	zingezuthomba
Class 9	izothomba	ezothomba	izothomba	ayizuthomba	engezuthomba	ingezuthomba
Class 10	zizothomba	ezizothomba	zizothomba	azizuthomba	ezingezuthomba	zingezuthomba
Class 11	luzothomba	oluzothomba	luzothomba	aluzuthomba	olungezuthomba	lungezuthomba
Class 14	buzothomba	obuzothomba	buzothomba	abuzuthomba	obungezuthomba	bungezuthomba
Class 15	kuzothomba	okuzothomba	kuzothomba	akuzuthomba	okungezuthomba	kungezuthomba
Class 17	kuzothomba	okuzothomba	kuzothomba	akuzuthomba	okungezuthomba	kungezuthomba
	Remote future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyothomba	engiyothomba	ngiyothomba	angiyuthomba	engingeyuthomba	ngingeyuthomba
2nd singular	uyothomba	oyothomba	uyothomba	awuyuthomba	ongeyuthomba	ungeyuthomba
1st plural	siyothomba	esiyothomba	siyothomba	asiyuthomba	esingeyuthomba	singeyuthomba
2nd plural	niyothomba	eniyothomba	niyothomba	aniyuthomba	eningeyuthomba	ningeyuthomba
Class 1	uyothomba	oyothomba	eyothomba	akayuthomba	ongeyuthomba	engeyuthomba
Class 2	bayothomba	abayothomba	beyothomba	abayuthomba	abangeyuthomba	bengeyuthomba
Class 3	uyothomba	oyothomba	uyothomba	awuyuthomba	ongeyuthomba	ungeyuthomba
Class 4	iyothomba	eyothomba	iyothomba	ayiyuthomba	engeyuthomba	ingeyuthomba
Class 5	liyothomba	eliyothomba	liyothomba	aliyuthomba	elingeyuthomba	lingeyuthomba
Class 6	ayothomba	ayothomba	eyothomba	awayuthomba	angeyuthomba	engeyuthomba
Class 7	siyothomba	esiyothomba	siyothomba	asiyuthomba	esingeyuthomba	singeyuthomba
Class 8	ziyothomba	eziyothomba	ziyothomba	aziyuthomba	ezingeyuthomba	zingeyuthomba
Class 9	iyothomba	eyothomba	iyothomba	ayiyuthomba	engeyuthomba	ingeyuthomba
Class 10	ziyothomba	eziyothomba	ziyothomba	aziyuthomba	ezingeyuthomba	zingeyuthomba
Class 11	luyothomba	oluyothomba	luyothomba	aluyuthomba	olungeyuthomba	lungeyuthomba
Class 14	buyothomba	obuyothomba	buyothomba	abuyuthomba	obungeyuthomba	bungeyuthomba
Class 15	kuyothomba	okuyothomba	kuyothomba	akuyuthomba	okungeyuthomba	kungeyuthomba
Class 17	kuyothomba	okuyothomba	kuyothomba	akuyuthomba	okungeyuthomba	kungeyuthomba
	Present subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngithombe	ngingathombi
2nd singular	uthombe	ungathombi
1st plural	sithombe	singathombi
2nd plural	nithombe	ningathombi
Class 1	athombe	angathombi
Class 2	bathombe	bangathombi
Class 3	uthombe	ungathombi
Class 4	ithombe	ingathombi
Class 5	lithombe	lingathombi
Class 6	athombe	angathombi
Class 7	sithombe	singathombi
Class 8	zithombe	zingathombi
Class 9	ithombe	ingathombi
Class 10	zithombe	zingathombi
Class 11	luthombe	lungathombi
Class 14	buthombe	bungathombi
Class 15	kuthombe	kungathombi
Class 17	kuthombe	kungathombi
	Past subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngathomba	ngangathomba, angathomba, angangathomba
2nd singular	wathomba	wangathomba, awathomba, awangathomba
1st plural	sathomba	sangathomba, asathomba, asangathomba
2nd plural	nathomba	nangathomba, anathomba, anangathomba
Class 1	wathomba	wangathomba, akathomba, akangathomba
Class 2	bathomba	bangathomba, abathomba, abangathomba
Class 3	wathomba	wangathomba, awathomba, awangathomba
Class 4	yathomba	yangathomba, ayathomba, ayangathomba
Class 5	lathomba	langathomba, alathomba, alangathomba
Class 6	athomba	angathomba, awathomba, awangathomba
Class 7	sathomba	sangathomba, asathomba, asangathomba
Class 8	zathomba	zangathomba, azathomba, azangathomba
Class 9	yathomba	yangathomba, ayathomba, ayangathomba
Class 10	zathomba	zangathomba, azathomba, azangathomba
Class 11	lwathomba	lwangathomba, alwathomba, alwangathomba
Class 14	bathomba	bangathomba, abathomba, abangathomba
Class 15	kwathomba	kwangathomba, akwathomba, akwangathomba
Class 17	kwathomba	kwangathomba, akwathomba, akwangathomba

Derived terms

• intombi

References

• C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “thomba”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “thomba (6.6-3)”