thetha

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-téta.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [tʰêːtʰa]

Verb

-thêtha

1. to speak

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-téta.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tʰêːtʰa/

Verb

-thêtha

1. (intransitive) to nag
2. (transitive) to try (a case of law)
3. (transitive) to offer to the spirits (praise, prayer, sacrifice etc.)
4. (transitive) to find not guilty, to judge in favour of
5. (transitive) to be attracted by

Inflection

Tone HH
Infinitive	ukuthetha
	Positive	Negative
Infinitive	ukuthetha	ukungathethi
	Imperative
	Simple	+ object concord
Singular	thetha	-thethe
Plural	thethani	-thetheni
	Present
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyathetha, ngithetha	engithethayo, engithetha	ngithetha	angithethi	engingathethi	ngingathethi
2nd singular	uyathetha, uthetha	othethayo, othetha	uthetha	awuthethi	ongathethi	ungathethi
1st plural	siyathetha, sithetha	esithethayo, esithetha	sithetha	asithethi	esingathethi	singathethi
2nd plural	niyathetha, nithetha	enithethayo, enithetha	nithetha	anithethi	eningathethi	ningathethi
Class 1	uyathetha, uthetha	othethayo, othetha	ethetha	akathethi	ongathethi	engathethi
Class 2	bayathetha, bathetha	abathethayo, abathetha	bethetha	abathethi	abangathethi	bengathethi
Class 3	uyathetha, uthetha	othethayo, othetha	uthetha	awuthethi	ongathethi	ungathethi
Class 4	iyathetha, ithetha	ethethayo, ethetha	ithetha	ayithethi	engathethi	ingathethi
Class 5	liyathetha, lithetha	elithethayo, elithetha	lithetha	alithethi	elingathethi	lingathethi
Class 6	ayathetha, athetha	athethayo, athetha	ethetha	awathethi	angathethi	engathethi
Class 7	siyathetha, sithetha	esithethayo, esithetha	sithetha	asithethi	esingathethi	singathethi
Class 8	ziyathetha, zithetha	ezithethayo, ezithetha	zithetha	azithethi	ezingathethi	zingathethi
Class 9	iyathetha, ithetha	ethethayo, ethetha	ithetha	ayithethi	engathethi	ingathethi
Class 10	ziyathetha, zithetha	ezithethayo, ezithetha	zithetha	azithethi	ezingathethi	zingathethi
Class 11	luyathetha, luthetha	oluthethayo, oluthetha	luthetha	aluthethi	olungathethi	lungathethi
Class 14	buyathetha, buthetha	obuthethayo, obuthetha	buthetha	abuthethi	obungathethi	bungathethi
Class 15	kuyathetha, kuthetha	okuthethayo, okuthetha	kuthetha	akuthethi	okungathethi	kungathethi
Class 17	kuyathetha, kuthetha	okuthethayo, okuthetha	kuthetha	akuthethi	okungathethi	kungathethi
	Recent past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngithethile, ngithethē	engithethile, engithethē	ngithethile, ngithethē	angithethanga	engingathethanga	ngingathethanga
2nd singular	uthethile, uthethē	othethile, othethē	uthethile, uthethē	awuthethanga	ongathethanga	ungathethanga
1st plural	sithethile, sithethē	esithethile, esithethē	sithethile, sithethē	asithethanga	esingathethanga	singathethanga
2nd plural	nithethile, nithethē	enithethile, enithethē	nithethile, nithethē	anithethanga	eningathethanga	ningathethanga
Class 1	uthethile, uthethē	othethile, othethē	ethethile, ethethē	akathethanga	ongathethanga	engathethanga
Class 2	bathethile, bathethē	abathethile, abathethē	bethethile, bethethē	abathethanga	abangathethanga	bengathethanga
Class 3	uthethile, uthethē	othethile, othethē	uthethile, uthethē	awuthethanga	ongathethanga	ungathethanga
Class 4	ithethile, ithethē	ethethile, ethethē	ithethile, ithethē	ayithethanga	engathethanga	ingathethanga
Class 5	lithethile, lithethē	elithethile, elithethē	lithethile, lithethē	alithethanga	elingathethanga	lingathethanga
Class 6	athethile, athethē	athethile, athethē	ethethile, ethethē	awathethanga	angathethanga	engathethanga
Class 7	sithethile, sithethē	esithethile, esithethē	sithethile, sithethē	asithethanga	esingathethanga	singathethanga
Class 8	zithethile, zithethē	ezithethile, ezithethē	zithethile, zithethē	azithethanga	ezingathethanga	zingathethanga
Class 9	ithethile, ithethē	ethethile, ethethē	ithethile, ithethē	ayithethanga	engathethanga	ingathethanga
Class 10	zithethile, zithethē	ezithethile, ezithethē	zithethile, zithethē	azithethanga	ezingathethanga	zingathethanga
Class 11	luthethile, luthethē	oluthethile, oluthethē	luthethile, luthethē	aluthethanga	olungathethanga	lungathethanga
Class 14	buthethile, buthethē	obuthethile, obuthethē	buthethile, buthethē	abuthethanga	obungathethanga	bungathethanga
Class 15	kuthethile, kuthethē	okuthethile, okuthethē	kuthethile, kuthethē	akuthethanga	okungathethanga	kungathethanga
Class 17	kuthethile, kuthethē	okuthethile, okuthethē	kuthethile, kuthethē	akuthethanga	okungathethanga	kungathethanga
	Remote past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngāthetha	engāthetha	ngāthetha	angithethanga	engingathethanga	ngingathethanga
2nd singular	wāthetha	owāthetha	wāthetha	awuthethanga	ongathethanga	ungathethanga
1st plural	sāthetha	esāthetha	sāthetha	asithethanga	esingathethanga	singathethanga
2nd plural	nāthetha	enāthetha	nāthetha	anithethanga	eningathethanga	ningathethanga
Class 1	wāthetha	owāthetha	āthetha	akathethanga	ongathethanga	engathethanga
Class 2	bāthetha	abāthetha	bāthetha	abathethanga	abangathethanga	bengathethanga
Class 3	wāthetha	owāthetha	wāthetha	awuthethanga	ongathethanga	ungathethanga
Class 4	yāthetha	eyāthetha	yāthetha	ayithethanga	engathethanga	ingathethanga
Class 5	lāthetha	elāthetha	lāthetha	alithethanga	elingathethanga	lingathethanga
Class 6	āthetha	āthetha	āthetha	awathethanga	angathethanga	engathethanga
Class 7	sāthetha	esāthetha	sāthetha	asithethanga	esingathethanga	singathethanga
Class 8	zāthetha	ezāthetha	zāthetha	azithethanga	ezingathethanga	zingathethanga
Class 9	yāthetha	eyāthetha	yāthetha	ayithethanga	engathethanga	ingathethanga
Class 10	zāthetha	ezāthetha	zāthetha	azithethanga	ezingathethanga	zingathethanga
Class 11	lwāthetha	olwāthetha	lwāthetha	aluthethanga	olungathethanga	lungathethanga
Class 14	bāthetha	obāthetha	bāthetha	abuthethanga	obungathethanga	bungathethanga
Class 15	kwāthetha	okwāthetha	kwāthetha	akuthethanga	okungathethanga	kungathethanga
Class 17	kwāthetha	okwāthetha	kwāthetha	akuthethanga	okungathethanga	kungathethanga
	Potential
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngingathetha	—	ngingathetha	ngingethethe	—	ngingethethe
2nd singular	ungathetha	—	ungathetha	ungethethe	—	ungethethe
1st plural	singathetha	—	singathetha	singethethe	—	singethethe
2nd plural	ningathetha	—	ningathetha	ningethethe	—	ningethethe
Class 1	angathetha	—	engathetha	angethethe	—	engethethe
Class 2	bangathetha	—	bengathetha	bangethethe	—	bengethethe
Class 3	ungathetha	—	ungathetha	ungethethe	—	ungethethe
Class 4	ingathetha	—	ingathetha	ingethethe	—	ingethethe
Class 5	lingathetha	—	lingathetha	lingethethe	—	lingethethe
Class 6	angathetha	—	engathetha	angethethe	—	engethethe
Class 7	singathetha	—	singathetha	singethethe	—	singethethe
Class 8	zingathetha	—	zingathetha	zingethethe	—	zingethethe
Class 9	ingathetha	—	ingathetha	ingethethe	—	ingethethe
Class 10	zingathetha	—	zingathetha	zingethethe	—	zingethethe
Class 11	lungathetha	—	lungathetha	lungethethe	—	lungethethe
Class 14	bungathetha	—	bungathetha	bungethethe	—	bungethethe
Class 15	kungathetha	—	kungathetha	kungethethe	—	kungethethe
Class 17	kungathetha	—	kungathetha	kungethethe	—	kungethethe
	Immediate future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngizothetha	engizothetha	ngizothetha	angizuthetha	engingezuthetha	ngingezuthetha
2nd singular	uzothetha	ozothetha	uzothetha	awuzuthetha	ongezuthetha	ungezuthetha
1st plural	sizothetha	esizothetha	sizothetha	asizuthetha	esingezuthetha	singezuthetha
2nd plural	nizothetha	enizothetha	nizothetha	anizuthetha	eningezuthetha	ningezuthetha
Class 1	uzothetha	ozothetha	ezothetha	akazuthetha	ongezuthetha	engezuthetha
Class 2	bazothetha	abazothetha	bezothetha	abazuthetha	abangezuthetha	bengezuthetha
Class 3	uzothetha	ozothetha	uzothetha	awuzuthetha	ongezuthetha	ungezuthetha
Class 4	izothetha	ezothetha	izothetha	ayizuthetha	engezuthetha	ingezuthetha
Class 5	lizothetha	elizothetha	lizothetha	alizuthetha	elingezuthetha	lingezuthetha
Class 6	azothetha	azothetha	ezothetha	awazuthetha	angezuthetha	engezuthetha
Class 7	sizothetha	esizothetha	sizothetha	asizuthetha	esingezuthetha	singezuthetha
Class 8	zizothetha	ezizothetha	zizothetha	azizuthetha	ezingezuthetha	zingezuthetha
Class 9	izothetha	ezothetha	izothetha	ayizuthetha	engezuthetha	ingezuthetha
Class 10	zizothetha	ezizothetha	zizothetha	azizuthetha	ezingezuthetha	zingezuthetha
Class 11	luzothetha	oluzothetha	luzothetha	aluzuthetha	olungezuthetha	lungezuthetha
Class 14	buzothetha	obuzothetha	buzothetha	abuzuthetha	obungezuthetha	bungezuthetha
Class 15	kuzothetha	okuzothetha	kuzothetha	akuzuthetha	okungezuthetha	kungezuthetha
Class 17	kuzothetha	okuzothetha	kuzothetha	akuzuthetha	okungezuthetha	kungezuthetha
	Remote future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyothetha	engiyothetha	ngiyothetha	angiyuthetha	engingeyuthetha	ngingeyuthetha
2nd singular	uyothetha	oyothetha	uyothetha	awuyuthetha	ongeyuthetha	ungeyuthetha
1st plural	siyothetha	esiyothetha	siyothetha	asiyuthetha	esingeyuthetha	singeyuthetha
2nd plural	niyothetha	eniyothetha	niyothetha	aniyuthetha	eningeyuthetha	ningeyuthetha
Class 1	uyothetha	oyothetha	eyothetha	akayuthetha	ongeyuthetha	engeyuthetha
Class 2	bayothetha	abayothetha	beyothetha	abayuthetha	abangeyuthetha	bengeyuthetha
Class 3	uyothetha	oyothetha	uyothetha	awuyuthetha	ongeyuthetha	ungeyuthetha
Class 4	iyothetha	eyothetha	iyothetha	ayiyuthetha	engeyuthetha	ingeyuthetha
Class 5	liyothetha	eliyothetha	liyothetha	aliyuthetha	elingeyuthetha	lingeyuthetha
Class 6	ayothetha	ayothetha	eyothetha	awayuthetha	angeyuthetha	engeyuthetha
Class 7	siyothetha	esiyothetha	siyothetha	asiyuthetha	esingeyuthetha	singeyuthetha
Class 8	ziyothetha	eziyothetha	ziyothetha	aziyuthetha	ezingeyuthetha	zingeyuthetha
Class 9	iyothetha	eyothetha	iyothetha	ayiyuthetha	engeyuthetha	ingeyuthetha
Class 10	ziyothetha	eziyothetha	ziyothetha	aziyuthetha	ezingeyuthetha	zingeyuthetha
Class 11	luyothetha	oluyothetha	luyothetha	aluyuthetha	olungeyuthetha	lungeyuthetha
Class 14	buyothetha	obuyothetha	buyothetha	abuyuthetha	obungeyuthetha	bungeyuthetha
Class 15	kuyothetha	okuyothetha	kuyothetha	akuyuthetha	okungeyuthetha	kungeyuthetha
Class 17	kuyothetha	okuyothetha	kuyothetha	akuyuthetha	okungeyuthetha	kungeyuthetha
	Present subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngithethe	ngingathethi
2nd singular	uthethe	ungathethi
1st plural	sithethe	singathethi
2nd plural	nithethe	ningathethi
Class 1	athethe	angathethi
Class 2	bathethe	bangathethi
Class 3	uthethe	ungathethi
Class 4	ithethe	ingathethi
Class 5	lithethe	lingathethi
Class 6	athethe	angathethi
Class 7	sithethe	singathethi
Class 8	zithethe	zingathethi
Class 9	ithethe	ingathethi
Class 10	zithethe	zingathethi
Class 11	luthethe	lungathethi
Class 14	buthethe	bungathethi
Class 15	kuthethe	kungathethi
Class 17	kuthethe	kungathethi
	Past subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngathetha	ngangathetha, angathetha, angangathetha
2nd singular	wathetha	wangathetha, awathetha, awangathetha
1st plural	sathetha	sangathetha, asathetha, asangathetha
2nd plural	nathetha	nangathetha, anathetha, anangathetha
Class 1	wathetha	wangathetha, akathetha, akangathetha
Class 2	bathetha	bangathetha, abathetha, abangathetha
Class 3	wathetha	wangathetha, awathetha, awangathetha
Class 4	yathetha	yangathetha, ayathetha, ayangathetha
Class 5	lathetha	langathetha, alathetha, alangathetha
Class 6	athetha	angathetha, awathetha, awangathetha
Class 7	sathetha	sangathetha, asathetha, asangathetha
Class 8	zathetha	zangathetha, azathetha, azangathetha
Class 9	yathetha	yangathetha, ayathetha, ayangathetha
Class 10	zathetha	zangathetha, azathetha, azangathetha
Class 11	lwathetha	lwangathetha, alwathetha, alwangathetha
Class 14	bathetha	bangathetha, abathetha, abangathetha
Class 15	kwathetha	kwangathetha, akwathetha, akwangathetha
Class 17	kwathetha	kwangathetha, akwathetha, akwangathetha

References

• C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “thetha”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “thetha (3.9)”