Photography

1. Kamera

   Camera

   Usage

   The word for a camera; the plural is makamera

   Grammar Note

   "kamera" is a loanword from English "camera"; the plural adds ma- to give "makamera"

2. Chithuzi

   Photo

   Usage

   The basic word for a photo or picture; the plural is vithuzi

   Grammar Note

   A class 7 noun whose plural is vithuzi (class 8); demonstratives and adjectives agree with chi-/vi- (chithuzi ichi "this photo", vithuzi viwemi "nice photos")

3. Kasi ningajambura chithuzi pano?

   May I take a photo here?

   Usage

   Asks whether photos are allowed at a venue or gathering; always ask a person before photographing them

   Grammar Note

   ni-nga- (I can) + -jambura (take a photo); the verb is also written jambula, and jambura is used here. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Chonde, mungatijambura chithuzi

   Please, could you take a photo of us

   Usage

   A polite way to hand your camera or phone to a passer-by and ask them to photograph you

   Grammar Note

   mu-nga- (you can) + ti- (us) + -jambura (take a photo); mu- is the polite "you". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Tiyeni tijambure chithuzi pamoza

   Let's take a photo together

   Usage

   Invites a new acquaintance or companion to pose for a photo together

   Grammar Note

   "Tiyeni ti-…-e" means "let's …"; the base verb of "jambure" is "kujambura" (take a photo). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Chithuzi ichi ni chiwemi

   This photo is nice

   Usage

   Comments on a photo when you look at pictures together

   Grammar Note

   Because chithuzi is a chi- noun, the demonstrative ichi and the adjective chiwemi agree with chi- (plural: vithuzi ivi ni viwemi). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Chonde, tumizgani vithuzi

   Please send the photos

   Usage

   Asks someone to send you the photos they took or the ones you took together

   Grammar Note

   tumizga (send) + -ni (polite or plural command); no recipient is named, so use it with the person who has the photos. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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