phela

Northern Ndebele

Verb

-phela^?

to cook

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Sotho

Verb

phela

to live

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-péda (“to finish”).

Verb

-phéla

(intransitive) to end, to terminate, to finish, to come to an end

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Swazi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-péda (“to finish”).

Verb

-phéla

(intransitive) to end, to terminate, to finish, to come to an end

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-péda (“to finish”).

Verb

-phêla

(intransitive) to end, to terminate, to finish, to come to an end

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

isiphelo

Zulu

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *-péda (“to finish”).

Verb

-phêla

(intransitive) to end, to terminate, to finish, to come to an end

Inflection

Tone HH
Infinitive	ukuphela
	Positive	Negative
Infinitive	ukuphela	ukungapheli
	Imperative
	Simple	+ object concord
Singular	phela	-phele
Plural	phelani	-pheleni
	Present
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyaphela, ngiphela	engiphelayo, engiphela	ngiphela	angipheli	engingapheli	ngingapheli
2nd singular	uyaphela, uphela	ophelayo, ophela	uphela	awupheli	ongapheli	ungapheli
1st plural	siyaphela, siphela	esiphelayo, esiphela	siphela	asipheli	esingapheli	singapheli
2nd plural	niyaphela, niphela	eniphelayo, eniphela	niphela	anipheli	eningapheli	ningapheli
Class 1	uyaphela, uphela	ophelayo, ophela	ephela	akapheli	ongapheli	engapheli
Class 2	bayaphela, baphela	abaphelayo, abaphela	bephela	abapheli	abangapheli	bengapheli
Class 3	uyaphela, uphela	ophelayo, ophela	uphela	awupheli	ongapheli	ungapheli
Class 4	iyaphela, iphela	ephelayo, ephela	iphela	ayipheli	engapheli	ingapheli
Class 5	liyaphela, liphela	eliphelayo, eliphela	liphela	alipheli	elingapheli	lingapheli
Class 6	ayaphela, aphela	aphelayo, aphela	ephela	awapheli	angapheli	engapheli
Class 7	siyaphela, siphela	esiphelayo, esiphela	siphela	asipheli	esingapheli	singapheli
Class 8	ziyaphela, ziphela	eziphelayo, eziphela	ziphela	azipheli	ezingapheli	zingapheli
Class 9	iyaphela, iphela	ephelayo, ephela	iphela	ayipheli	engapheli	ingapheli
Class 10	ziyaphela, ziphela	eziphelayo, eziphela	ziphela	azipheli	ezingapheli	zingapheli
Class 11	luyaphela, luphela	oluphelayo, oluphela	luphela	alupheli	olungapheli	lungapheli
Class 14	buyaphela, buphela	obuphelayo, obuphela	buphela	abupheli	obungapheli	bungapheli
Class 15	kuyaphela, kuphela	okuphelayo, okuphela	kuphela	akupheli	okungapheli	kungapheli
Class 17	kuyaphela, kuphela	okuphelayo, okuphela	kuphela	akupheli	okungapheli	kungapheli
	Recent past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiphelile, ngiphelē	engiphelile, engiphelē	ngiphelile, ngiphelē	angiphelanga	engingaphelanga	ngingaphelanga
2nd singular	uphelile, uphelē	ophelile, ophelē	uphelile, uphelē	awuphelanga	ongaphelanga	ungaphelanga
1st plural	siphelile, siphelē	esiphelile, esiphelē	siphelile, siphelē	asiphelanga	esingaphelanga	singaphelanga
2nd plural	niphelile, niphelē	eniphelile, eniphelē	niphelile, niphelē	aniphelanga	eningaphelanga	ningaphelanga
Class 1	uphelile, uphelē	ophelile, ophelē	ephelile, ephelē	akaphelanga	ongaphelanga	engaphelanga
Class 2	baphelile, baphelē	abaphelile, abaphelē	bephelile, bephelē	abaphelanga	abangaphelanga	bengaphelanga
Class 3	uphelile, uphelē	ophelile, ophelē	uphelile, uphelē	awuphelanga	ongaphelanga	ungaphelanga
Class 4	iphelile, iphelē	ephelile, ephelē	iphelile, iphelē	ayiphelanga	engaphelanga	ingaphelanga
Class 5	liphelile, liphelē	eliphelile, eliphelē	liphelile, liphelē	aliphelanga	elingaphelanga	lingaphelanga
Class 6	aphelile, aphelē	aphelile, aphelē	ephelile, ephelē	awaphelanga	angaphelanga	engaphelanga
Class 7	siphelile, siphelē	esiphelile, esiphelē	siphelile, siphelē	asiphelanga	esingaphelanga	singaphelanga
Class 8	ziphelile, ziphelē	eziphelile, eziphelē	ziphelile, ziphelē	aziphelanga	ezingaphelanga	zingaphelanga
Class 9	iphelile, iphelē	ephelile, ephelē	iphelile, iphelē	ayiphelanga	engaphelanga	ingaphelanga
Class 10	ziphelile, ziphelē	eziphelile, eziphelē	ziphelile, ziphelē	aziphelanga	ezingaphelanga	zingaphelanga
Class 11	luphelile, luphelē	oluphelile, oluphelē	luphelile, luphelē	aluphelanga	olungaphelanga	lungaphelanga
Class 14	buphelile, buphelē	obuphelile, obuphelē	buphelile, buphelē	abuphelanga	obungaphelanga	bungaphelanga
Class 15	kuphelile, kuphelē	okuphelile, okuphelē	kuphelile, kuphelē	akuphelanga	okungaphelanga	kungaphelanga
Class 17	kuphelile, kuphelē	okuphelile, okuphelē	kuphelile, kuphelē	akuphelanga	okungaphelanga	kungaphelanga
	Remote past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngāphela	engāphela	ngāphela	angiphelanga	engingaphelanga	ngingaphelanga
2nd singular	wāphela	owāphela	wāphela	awuphelanga	ongaphelanga	ungaphelanga
1st plural	sāphela	esāphela	sāphela	asiphelanga	esingaphelanga	singaphelanga
2nd plural	nāphela	enāphela	nāphela	aniphelanga	eningaphelanga	ningaphelanga
Class 1	wāphela	owāphela	āphela	akaphelanga	ongaphelanga	engaphelanga
Class 2	bāphela	abāphela	bāphela	abaphelanga	abangaphelanga	bengaphelanga
Class 3	wāphela	owāphela	wāphela	awuphelanga	ongaphelanga	ungaphelanga
Class 4	yāphela	eyāphela	yāphela	ayiphelanga	engaphelanga	ingaphelanga
Class 5	lāphela	elāphela	lāphela	aliphelanga	elingaphelanga	lingaphelanga
Class 6	āphela	āphela	āphela	awaphelanga	angaphelanga	engaphelanga
Class 7	sāphela	esāphela	sāphela	asiphelanga	esingaphelanga	singaphelanga
Class 8	zāphela	ezāphela	zāphela	aziphelanga	ezingaphelanga	zingaphelanga
Class 9	yāphela	eyāphela	yāphela	ayiphelanga	engaphelanga	ingaphelanga
Class 10	zāphela	ezāphela	zāphela	aziphelanga	ezingaphelanga	zingaphelanga
Class 11	lwāphela	olwāphela	lwāphela	aluphelanga	olungaphelanga	lungaphelanga
Class 14	bāphela	obāphela	bāphela	abuphelanga	obungaphelanga	bungaphelanga
Class 15	kwāphela	okwāphela	kwāphela	akuphelanga	okungaphelanga	kungaphelanga
Class 17	kwāphela	okwāphela	kwāphela	akuphelanga	okungaphelanga	kungaphelanga
	Potential
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngingaphela	—	ngingaphela	ngingephele	—	ngingephele
2nd singular	ungaphela	—	ungaphela	ungephele	—	ungephele
1st plural	singaphela	—	singaphela	singephele	—	singephele
2nd plural	ningaphela	—	ningaphela	ningephele	—	ningephele
Class 1	angaphela	—	engaphela	angephele	—	engephele
Class 2	bangaphela	—	bengaphela	bangephele	—	bengephele
Class 3	ungaphela	—	ungaphela	ungephele	—	ungephele
Class 4	ingaphela	—	ingaphela	ingephele	—	ingephele
Class 5	lingaphela	—	lingaphela	lingephele	—	lingephele
Class 6	angaphela	—	engaphela	angephele	—	engephele
Class 7	singaphela	—	singaphela	singephele	—	singephele
Class 8	zingaphela	—	zingaphela	zingephele	—	zingephele
Class 9	ingaphela	—	ingaphela	ingephele	—	ingephele
Class 10	zingaphela	—	zingaphela	zingephele	—	zingephele
Class 11	lungaphela	—	lungaphela	lungephele	—	lungephele
Class 14	bungaphela	—	bungaphela	bungephele	—	bungephele
Class 15	kungaphela	—	kungaphela	kungephele	—	kungephele
Class 17	kungaphela	—	kungaphela	kungephele	—	kungephele
	Immediate future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngizophela	engizophela	ngizophela	angizuphela	engingezuphela	ngingezuphela
2nd singular	uzophela	ozophela	uzophela	awuzuphela	ongezuphela	ungezuphela
1st plural	sizophela	esizophela	sizophela	asizuphela	esingezuphela	singezuphela
2nd plural	nizophela	enizophela	nizophela	anizuphela	eningezuphela	ningezuphela
Class 1	uzophela	ozophela	ezophela	akazuphela	ongezuphela	engezuphela
Class 2	bazophela	abazophela	bezophela	abazuphela	abangezuphela	bengezuphela
Class 3	uzophela	ozophela	uzophela	awuzuphela	ongezuphela	ungezuphela
Class 4	izophela	ezophela	izophela	ayizuphela	engezuphela	ingezuphela
Class 5	lizophela	elizophela	lizophela	alizuphela	elingezuphela	lingezuphela
Class 6	azophela	azophela	ezophela	awazuphela	angezuphela	engezuphela
Class 7	sizophela	esizophela	sizophela	asizuphela	esingezuphela	singezuphela
Class 8	zizophela	ezizophela	zizophela	azizuphela	ezingezuphela	zingezuphela
Class 9	izophela	ezophela	izophela	ayizuphela	engezuphela	ingezuphela
Class 10	zizophela	ezizophela	zizophela	azizuphela	ezingezuphela	zingezuphela
Class 11	luzophela	oluzophela	luzophela	aluzuphela	olungezuphela	lungezuphela
Class 14	buzophela	obuzophela	buzophela	abuzuphela	obungezuphela	bungezuphela
Class 15	kuzophela	okuzophela	kuzophela	akuzuphela	okungezuphela	kungezuphela
Class 17	kuzophela	okuzophela	kuzophela	akuzuphela	okungezuphela	kungezuphela
	Remote future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyophela	engiyophela	ngiyophela	angiyuphela	engingeyuphela	ngingeyuphela
2nd singular	uyophela	oyophela	uyophela	awuyuphela	ongeyuphela	ungeyuphela
1st plural	siyophela	esiyophela	siyophela	asiyuphela	esingeyuphela	singeyuphela
2nd plural	niyophela	eniyophela	niyophela	aniyuphela	eningeyuphela	ningeyuphela
Class 1	uyophela	oyophela	eyophela	akayuphela	ongeyuphela	engeyuphela
Class 2	bayophela	abayophela	beyophela	abayuphela	abangeyuphela	bengeyuphela
Class 3	uyophela	oyophela	uyophela	awuyuphela	ongeyuphela	ungeyuphela
Class 4	iyophela	eyophela	iyophela	ayiyuphela	engeyuphela	ingeyuphela
Class 5	liyophela	eliyophela	liyophela	aliyuphela	elingeyuphela	lingeyuphela
Class 6	ayophela	ayophela	eyophela	awayuphela	angeyuphela	engeyuphela
Class 7	siyophela	esiyophela	siyophela	asiyuphela	esingeyuphela	singeyuphela
Class 8	ziyophela	eziyophela	ziyophela	aziyuphela	ezingeyuphela	zingeyuphela
Class 9	iyophela	eyophela	iyophela	ayiyuphela	engeyuphela	ingeyuphela
Class 10	ziyophela	eziyophela	ziyophela	aziyuphela	ezingeyuphela	zingeyuphela
Class 11	luyophela	oluyophela	luyophela	aluyuphela	olungeyuphela	lungeyuphela
Class 14	buyophela	obuyophela	buyophela	abuyuphela	obungeyuphela	bungeyuphela
Class 15	kuyophela	okuyophela	kuyophela	akuyuphela	okungeyuphela	kungeyuphela
Class 17	kuyophela	okuyophela	kuyophela	akuyuphela	okungeyuphela	kungeyuphela
	Present subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngiphele	ngingapheli
2nd singular	uphele	ungapheli
1st plural	siphele	singapheli
2nd plural	niphele	ningapheli
Class 1	aphele	angapheli
Class 2	baphele	bangapheli
Class 3	uphele	ungapheli
Class 4	iphele	ingapheli
Class 5	liphele	lingapheli
Class 6	aphele	angapheli
Class 7	siphele	singapheli
Class 8	ziphele	zingapheli
Class 9	iphele	ingapheli
Class 10	ziphele	zingapheli
Class 11	luphele	lungapheli
Class 14	buphele	bungapheli
Class 15	kuphele	kungapheli
Class 17	kuphele	kungapheli
	Past subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngaphela	ngangaphela, angaphela, angangaphela
2nd singular	waphela	wangaphela, awaphela, awangaphela
1st plural	saphela	sangaphela, asaphela, asangaphela
2nd plural	naphela	nangaphela, anaphela, anangaphela
Class 1	waphela	wangaphela, akaphela, akangaphela
Class 2	baphela	bangaphela, abaphela, abangaphela
Class 3	waphela	wangaphela, awaphela, awangaphela
Class 4	yaphela	yangaphela, ayaphela, ayangaphela
Class 5	laphela	langaphela, alaphela, alangaphela
Class 6	aphela	angaphela, awaphela, awangaphela
Class 7	saphela	sangaphela, asaphela, asangaphela
Class 8	zaphela	zangaphela, azaphela, azangaphela
Class 9	yaphela	yangaphela, ayaphela, ayangaphela
Class 10	zaphela	zangaphela, azaphela, azangaphela
Class 11	lwaphela	lwangaphela, alwaphela, alwangaphela
Class 14	baphela	bangaphela, abaphela, abangaphela
Class 15	kwaphela	kwangaphela, akwaphela, akwangaphela
Class 17	kwaphela	kwangaphela, akwaphela, akwangaphela

Etymology 2

From impela.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /pʰêːla/

Adverb

phêla

absolutely, actually, certainly, indeed, really, truly

References

C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “phela”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “phela (3-8.9)”
C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “phela”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “phela (3.9)”