phula

Phuthi

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *-jápʊda (“to tear, to separate”), reversive form of Proto-Bantu *-jápa (“to pluck”).

Verb

-phúla

1. to break

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

-phula

1. to take off fire if ready, to dish up

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Sotho

Noun

phula class 9/10 (plural diphula)

1. valley

Zulu

Alternative forms

• -ephula

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-jápʊda (“to tear, to separate”), reversive form of Proto-Bantu *-jápa (“to pluck”).

Verb

-phúla

1. (transitive) to break, to fracture
2. (transitive) to cause sudden death

Inflection

Tone H
Infinitive	ukuphula
	Positive	Negative
Infinitive	ukuphula	ukungaphuli
	Imperative
	Simple	+ object concord
Singular	phula	-phule
Plural	phulani	-phuleni
	Present
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyaphula, ngiphula	engiphulayo, engiphula	ngiphula	angiphuli	engingaphuli	ngingaphuli
2nd singular	uyaphula, uphula	ophulayo, ophula	uphula	awuphuli	ongaphuli	ungaphuli
1st plural	siyaphula, siphula	esiphulayo, esiphula	siphula	asiphuli	esingaphuli	singaphuli
2nd plural	niyaphula, niphula	eniphulayo, eniphula	niphula	aniphuli	eningaphuli	ningaphuli
Class 1	uyaphula, uphula	ophulayo, ophula	ephula	akaphuli	ongaphuli	engaphuli
Class 2	bayaphula, baphula	abaphulayo, abaphula	bephula	abaphuli	abangaphuli	bengaphuli
Class 3	uyaphula, uphula	ophulayo, ophula	uphula	awuphuli	ongaphuli	ungaphuli
Class 4	iyaphula, iphula	ephulayo, ephula	iphula	ayiphuli	engaphuli	ingaphuli
Class 5	liyaphula, liphula	eliphulayo, eliphula	liphula	aliphuli	elingaphuli	lingaphuli
Class 6	ayaphula, aphula	aphulayo, aphula	ephula	awaphuli	angaphuli	engaphuli
Class 7	siyaphula, siphula	esiphulayo, esiphula	siphula	asiphuli	esingaphuli	singaphuli
Class 8	ziyaphula, ziphula	eziphulayo, eziphula	ziphula	aziphuli	ezingaphuli	zingaphuli
Class 9	iyaphula, iphula	ephulayo, ephula	iphula	ayiphuli	engaphuli	ingaphuli
Class 10	ziyaphula, ziphula	eziphulayo, eziphula	ziphula	aziphuli	ezingaphuli	zingaphuli
Class 11	luyaphula, luphula	oluphulayo, oluphula	luphula	aluphuli	olungaphuli	lungaphuli
Class 14	buyaphula, buphula	obuphulayo, obuphula	buphula	abuphuli	obungaphuli	bungaphuli
Class 15	kuyaphula, kuphula	okuphulayo, okuphula	kuphula	akuphuli	okungaphuli	kungaphuli
Class 17	kuyaphula, kuphula	okuphulayo, okuphula	kuphula	akuphuli	okungaphuli	kungaphuli
	Recent past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiphulile, ngiphulē	engiphulile, engiphulē	ngiphulile, ngiphulē	angiphulanga	engingaphulanga	ngingaphulanga
2nd singular	uphulile, uphulē	ophulile, ophulē	uphulile, uphulē	awuphulanga	ongaphulanga	ungaphulanga
1st plural	siphulile, siphulē	esiphulile, esiphulē	siphulile, siphulē	asiphulanga	esingaphulanga	singaphulanga
2nd plural	niphulile, niphulē	eniphulile, eniphulē	niphulile, niphulē	aniphulanga	eningaphulanga	ningaphulanga
Class 1	uphulile, uphulē	ophulile, ophulē	ephulile, ephulē	akaphulanga	ongaphulanga	engaphulanga
Class 2	baphulile, baphulē	abaphulile, abaphulē	bephulile, bephulē	abaphulanga	abangaphulanga	bengaphulanga
Class 3	uphulile, uphulē	ophulile, ophulē	uphulile, uphulē	awuphulanga	ongaphulanga	ungaphulanga
Class 4	iphulile, iphulē	ephulile, ephulē	iphulile, iphulē	ayiphulanga	engaphulanga	ingaphulanga
Class 5	liphulile, liphulē	eliphulile, eliphulē	liphulile, liphulē	aliphulanga	elingaphulanga	lingaphulanga
Class 6	aphulile, aphulē	aphulile, aphulē	ephulile, ephulē	awaphulanga	angaphulanga	engaphulanga
Class 7	siphulile, siphulē	esiphulile, esiphulē	siphulile, siphulē	asiphulanga	esingaphulanga	singaphulanga
Class 8	ziphulile, ziphulē	eziphulile, eziphulē	ziphulile, ziphulē	aziphulanga	ezingaphulanga	zingaphulanga
Class 9	iphulile, iphulē	ephulile, ephulē	iphulile, iphulē	ayiphulanga	engaphulanga	ingaphulanga
Class 10	ziphulile, ziphulē	eziphulile, eziphulē	ziphulile, ziphulē	aziphulanga	ezingaphulanga	zingaphulanga
Class 11	luphulile, luphulē	oluphulile, oluphulē	luphulile, luphulē	aluphulanga	olungaphulanga	lungaphulanga
Class 14	buphulile, buphulē	obuphulile, obuphulē	buphulile, buphulē	abuphulanga	obungaphulanga	bungaphulanga
Class 15	kuphulile, kuphulē	okuphulile, okuphulē	kuphulile, kuphulē	akuphulanga	okungaphulanga	kungaphulanga
Class 17	kuphulile, kuphulē	okuphulile, okuphulē	kuphulile, kuphulē	akuphulanga	okungaphulanga	kungaphulanga
	Remote past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngāphula	engāphula	ngāphula	angiphulanga	engingaphulanga	ngingaphulanga
2nd singular	wāphula	owāphula	wāphula	awuphulanga	ongaphulanga	ungaphulanga
1st plural	sāphula	esāphula	sāphula	asiphulanga	esingaphulanga	singaphulanga
2nd plural	nāphula	enāphula	nāphula	aniphulanga	eningaphulanga	ningaphulanga
Class 1	wāphula	owāphula	āphula	akaphulanga	ongaphulanga	engaphulanga
Class 2	bāphula	abāphula	bāphula	abaphulanga	abangaphulanga	bengaphulanga
Class 3	wāphula	owāphula	wāphula	awuphulanga	ongaphulanga	ungaphulanga
Class 4	yāphula	eyāphula	yāphula	ayiphulanga	engaphulanga	ingaphulanga
Class 5	lāphula	elāphula	lāphula	aliphulanga	elingaphulanga	lingaphulanga
Class 6	āphula	āphula	āphula	awaphulanga	angaphulanga	engaphulanga
Class 7	sāphula	esāphula	sāphula	asiphulanga	esingaphulanga	singaphulanga
Class 8	zāphula	ezāphula	zāphula	aziphulanga	ezingaphulanga	zingaphulanga
Class 9	yāphula	eyāphula	yāphula	ayiphulanga	engaphulanga	ingaphulanga
Class 10	zāphula	ezāphula	zāphula	aziphulanga	ezingaphulanga	zingaphulanga
Class 11	lwāphula	olwāphula	lwāphula	aluphulanga	olungaphulanga	lungaphulanga
Class 14	bāphula	obāphula	bāphula	abuphulanga	obungaphulanga	bungaphulanga
Class 15	kwāphula	okwāphula	kwāphula	akuphulanga	okungaphulanga	kungaphulanga
Class 17	kwāphula	okwāphula	kwāphula	akuphulanga	okungaphulanga	kungaphulanga
	Potential
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngingaphula	—	ngingaphula	ngingephule	—	ngingephule
2nd singular	ungaphula	—	ungaphula	ungephule	—	ungephule
1st plural	singaphula	—	singaphula	singephule	—	singephule
2nd plural	ningaphula	—	ningaphula	ningephule	—	ningephule
Class 1	angaphula	—	engaphula	angephule	—	engephule
Class 2	bangaphula	—	bengaphula	bangephule	—	bengephule
Class 3	ungaphula	—	ungaphula	ungephule	—	ungephule
Class 4	ingaphula	—	ingaphula	ingephule	—	ingephule
Class 5	lingaphula	—	lingaphula	lingephule	—	lingephule
Class 6	angaphula	—	engaphula	angephule	—	engephule
Class 7	singaphula	—	singaphula	singephule	—	singephule
Class 8	zingaphula	—	zingaphula	zingephule	—	zingephule
Class 9	ingaphula	—	ingaphula	ingephule	—	ingephule
Class 10	zingaphula	—	zingaphula	zingephule	—	zingephule
Class 11	lungaphula	—	lungaphula	lungephule	—	lungephule
Class 14	bungaphula	—	bungaphula	bungephule	—	bungephule
Class 15	kungaphula	—	kungaphula	kungephule	—	kungephule
Class 17	kungaphula	—	kungaphula	kungephule	—	kungephule
	Immediate future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngizophula	engizophula	ngizophula	angizuphula	engingezuphula	ngingezuphula
2nd singular	uzophula	ozophula	uzophula	awuzuphula	ongezuphula	ungezuphula
1st plural	sizophula	esizophula	sizophula	asizuphula	esingezuphula	singezuphula
2nd plural	nizophula	enizophula	nizophula	anizuphula	eningezuphula	ningezuphula
Class 1	uzophula	ozophula	ezophula	akazuphula	ongezuphula	engezuphula
Class 2	bazophula	abazophula	bezophula	abazuphula	abangezuphula	bengezuphula
Class 3	uzophula	ozophula	uzophula	awuzuphula	ongezuphula	ungezuphula
Class 4	izophula	ezophula	izophula	ayizuphula	engezuphula	ingezuphula
Class 5	lizophula	elizophula	lizophula	alizuphula	elingezuphula	lingezuphula
Class 6	azophula	azophula	ezophula	awazuphula	angezuphula	engezuphula
Class 7	sizophula	esizophula	sizophula	asizuphula	esingezuphula	singezuphula
Class 8	zizophula	ezizophula	zizophula	azizuphula	ezingezuphula	zingezuphula
Class 9	izophula	ezophula	izophula	ayizuphula	engezuphula	ingezuphula
Class 10	zizophula	ezizophula	zizophula	azizuphula	ezingezuphula	zingezuphula
Class 11	luzophula	oluzophula	luzophula	aluzuphula	olungezuphula	lungezuphula
Class 14	buzophula	obuzophula	buzophula	abuzuphula	obungezuphula	bungezuphula
Class 15	kuzophula	okuzophula	kuzophula	akuzuphula	okungezuphula	kungezuphula
Class 17	kuzophula	okuzophula	kuzophula	akuzuphula	okungezuphula	kungezuphula
	Remote future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyophula	engiyophula	ngiyophula	angiyuphula	engingeyuphula	ngingeyuphula
2nd singular	uyophula	oyophula	uyophula	awuyuphula	ongeyuphula	ungeyuphula
1st plural	siyophula	esiyophula	siyophula	asiyuphula	esingeyuphula	singeyuphula
2nd plural	niyophula	eniyophula	niyophula	aniyuphula	eningeyuphula	ningeyuphula
Class 1	uyophula	oyophula	eyophula	akayuphula	ongeyuphula	engeyuphula
Class 2	bayophula	abayophula	beyophula	abayuphula	abangeyuphula	bengeyuphula
Class 3	uyophula	oyophula	uyophula	awuyuphula	ongeyuphula	ungeyuphula
Class 4	iyophula	eyophula	iyophula	ayiyuphula	engeyuphula	ingeyuphula
Class 5	liyophula	eliyophula	liyophula	aliyuphula	elingeyuphula	lingeyuphula
Class 6	ayophula	ayophula	eyophula	awayuphula	angeyuphula	engeyuphula
Class 7	siyophula	esiyophula	siyophula	asiyuphula	esingeyuphula	singeyuphula
Class 8	ziyophula	eziyophula	ziyophula	aziyuphula	ezingeyuphula	zingeyuphula
Class 9	iyophula	eyophula	iyophula	ayiyuphula	engeyuphula	ingeyuphula
Class 10	ziyophula	eziyophula	ziyophula	aziyuphula	ezingeyuphula	zingeyuphula
Class 11	luyophula	oluyophula	luyophula	aluyuphula	olungeyuphula	lungeyuphula
Class 14	buyophula	obuyophula	buyophula	abuyuphula	obungeyuphula	bungeyuphula
Class 15	kuyophula	okuyophula	kuyophula	akuyuphula	okungeyuphula	kungeyuphula
Class 17	kuyophula	okuyophula	kuyophula	akuyuphula	okungeyuphula	kungeyuphula
	Present subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngiphule	ngingaphuli
2nd singular	uphule	ungaphuli
1st plural	siphule	singaphuli
2nd plural	niphule	ningaphuli
Class 1	aphule	angaphuli
Class 2	baphule	bangaphuli
Class 3	uphule	ungaphuli
Class 4	iphule	ingaphuli
Class 5	liphule	lingaphuli
Class 6	aphule	angaphuli
Class 7	siphule	singaphuli
Class 8	ziphule	zingaphuli
Class 9	iphule	ingaphuli
Class 10	ziphule	zingaphuli
Class 11	luphule	lungaphuli
Class 14	buphule	bungaphuli
Class 15	kuphule	kungaphuli
Class 17	kuphule	kungaphuli
	Past subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngaphula	ngangaphula, angaphula, angangaphula
2nd singular	waphula	wangaphula, awaphula, awangaphula
1st plural	saphula	sangaphula, asaphula, asangaphula
2nd plural	naphula	nangaphula, anaphula, anangaphula
Class 1	waphula	wangaphula, akaphula, akangaphula
Class 2	baphula	bangaphula, abaphula, abangaphula
Class 3	waphula	wangaphula, awaphula, awangaphula
Class 4	yaphula	yangaphula, ayaphula, ayangaphula
Class 5	laphula	langaphula, alaphula, alangaphula
Class 6	aphula	angaphula, awaphula, awangaphula
Class 7	saphula	sangaphula, asaphula, asangaphula
Class 8	zaphula	zangaphula, azaphula, azangaphula
Class 9	yaphula	yangaphula, ayaphula, ayangaphula
Class 10	zaphula	zangaphula, azaphula, azangaphula
Class 11	lwaphula	lwangaphula, alwaphula, alwangaphula
Class 14	baphula	bangaphula, abaphula, abangaphula
Class 15	kwaphula	kwangaphula, akwaphula, akwangaphula
Class 17	kwaphula	kwangaphula, akwaphula, akwangaphula

Related terms

• -phuza
• -ephuza
• -phuka
• -ephuka

References

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