# ncipha
## Zulu
### Pronunciation

IPA: /ᵑǀîːpʰa/

### Verb

-ncîpha
* (intransitive) to decrease, to diminish, to dwindle, to lessen, to shorten, to shrink, to wane, to become less, to become smaller
* (intransitive) to be slim, to lose weight

#### Inflection

Tone HH :
| Infinitive | ukuncipha |
| | Positive | Negative |
| Infinitive | ukuncipha | ukunganciphi |
| | Imperative | Imperative |
| | Simple | + object concord |
| Singular | ncipha | -nciphe |
| Plural | nciphani | -ncipheni |
| | Present | Present | Present | Present | Present | Present |
| | Positive absolute | Positive relative | Positive participial | Negative absolute | Negative relative | Negative participial |
| 1st singular | ngiyancipha, ngincipha | enginciphayo, engincipha | ngincipha | anginciphi | enginganciphi | nginganciphi |
| 2nd singular | uyancipha, uncipha | onciphayo, oncipha | uncipha | awunciphi | onganciphi | unganciphi |
| 1st plural | siyancipha, sincipha | esinciphayo, esincipha | sincipha | asinciphi | esinganciphi | singanciphi |
| 2nd plural | niyancipha, nincipha | eninciphayo, enincipha | nincipha | aninciphi | eninganciphi | ninganciphi |
| Class 1 | uyancipha, uncipha | onciphayo, oncipha | encipha | akanciphi | onganciphi | enganciphi |
| Class 2 | bayancipha, bancipha | abanciphayo, abancipha | bencipha | abanciphi | abanganciphi | benganciphi |
| Class 3 | uyancipha, uncipha | onciphayo, oncipha | uncipha | awunciphi | onganciphi | unganciphi |
| Class 4 | iyancipha, incipha | enciphayo, encipha | incipha | ayinciphi | enganciphi | inganciphi |
| Class 5 | liyancipha, lincipha | elinciphayo, elincipha | lincipha | alinciphi | elinganciphi | linganciphi |
| Class 6 | ayancipha, ancipha | anciphayo, ancipha | encipha | awanciphi | anganciphi | enganciphi |
| Class 7 | siyancipha, sincipha | esinciphayo, esincipha | sincipha | asinciphi | esinganciphi | singanciphi |
| Class 8 | ziyancipha, zincipha | ezinciphayo, ezincipha | zincipha | azinciphi | ezinganciphi | zinganciphi |
| Class 9 | iyancipha, incipha | enciphayo, encipha | incipha | ayinciphi | enganciphi | inganciphi |
| Class 10 | ziyancipha, zincipha | ezinciphayo, ezincipha | zincipha | azinciphi | ezinganciphi | zinganciphi |
| Class 11 | luyancipha, luncipha | olunciphayo, oluncipha | luncipha | alunciphi | olunganciphi | lunganciphi |
| Class 14 | buyancipha, buncipha | obunciphayo, obuncipha | buncipha | abunciphi | obunganciphi | bunganciphi |
| Class 15 | kuyancipha, kuncipha | okunciphayo, okuncipha | kuncipha | akunciphi | okunganciphi | kunganciphi |
| Class 17 | kuyancipha, kuncipha | okunciphayo, okuncipha | kuncipha | akunciphi | okunganciphi | kunganciphi |
| | Recent past | Recent past | Recent past | Recent past | Recent past | Recent past |
| | Positive absolute | Positive relative | Positive participial | Negative absolute | Negative relative | Negative participial |
| 1st singular | nginciphile, nginciphē | enginciphile, enginciphē | nginciphile, nginciphē | anginciphanga | enginganciphanga | nginganciphanga |
| 2nd singular | unciphile, unciphē | onciphile, onciphē | unciphile, unciphē | awunciphanga | onganciphanga | unganciphanga |
| 1st plural | sinciphile, sinciphē | esinciphile, esinciphē | sinciphile, sinciphē | asinciphanga | esinganciphanga | singanciphanga |
| 2nd plural | ninciphile, ninciphē | eninciphile, eninciphē | ninciphile, ninciphē | aninciphanga | eninganciphanga | ninganciphanga |
| Class 1 | unciphile, unciphē | onciphile, onciphē | enciphile, enciphē | akanciphanga | onganciphanga | enganciphanga |
| Class 2 | banciphile, banciphē | abanciphile, abanciphē | benciphile, benciphē | abanciphanga | abanganciphanga | benganciphanga |
| Class 3 | unciphile, unciphē | onciphile, onciphē | unciphile, unciphē | awunciphanga | onganciphanga | unganciphanga |
| Class 4 | inciphile, inciphē | enciphile, enciphē | inciphile, inciphē | ayinciphanga | enganciphanga | inganciphanga |
| Class 5 | linciphile, linciphē | elinciphile, elinciphē | linciphile, linciphē | alinciphanga | elinganciphanga | linganciphanga |
| Class 6 | anciphile, anciphē | anciphile, anciphē | enciphile, enciphē | awanciphanga | anganciphanga | enganciphanga |
| Class 7 | sinciphile, sinciphē | esinciphile, esinciphē | sinciphile, sinciphē | asinciphanga | esinganciphanga | singanciphanga |
| Class 8 | zinciphile, zinciphē | ezinciphile, ezinciphē | zinciphile, zinciphē | azinciphanga | ezinganciphanga | zinganciphanga |
| Class 9 | inciphile, inciphē | enciphile, enciphē | inciphile, inciphē | ayinciphanga | enganciphanga | inganciphanga |
| Class 10 | zinciphile, zinciphē | ezinciphile, ezinciphē | zinciphile, zinciphē | azinciphanga | ezinganciphanga | zinganciphanga |
| Class 11 | lunciphile, lunciphē | olunciphile, olunciphē | lunciphile, lunciphē | alunciphanga | olunganciphanga | lunganciphanga |
| Class 14 | bunciphile, bunciphē | obunciphile, obunciphē | bunciphile, bunciphē | abunciphanga | obunganciphanga | bunganciphanga |
| Class 15 | kunciphile, kunciphē | okunciphile, okunciphē | kunciphile, kunciphē | akunciphanga | okunganciphanga | kunganciphanga |
| Class 17 | kunciphile, kunciphē | okunciphile, okunciphē | kunciphile, kunciphē | akunciphanga | okunganciphanga | kunganciphanga |
| | Remote past | Remote past | Remote past | Remote past | Remote past | Remote past |
| | Positive absolute | Positive relative | Positive participial | Negative absolute | Negative relative | Negative participial |
| 1st singular | ngāncipha | engāncipha | ngāncipha | anginciphanga | enginganciphanga | nginganciphanga |
| 2nd singular | wāncipha | owāncipha | wāncipha | awunciphanga | onganciphanga | unganciphanga |
| 1st plural | sāncipha | esāncipha | sāncipha | asinciphanga | esinganciphanga | singanciphanga |
| 2nd plural | nāncipha | enāncipha | nāncipha | aninciphanga | eninganciphanga | ninganciphanga |
| Class 1 | wāncipha | owāncipha | āncipha | akanciphanga | onganciphanga | enganciphanga |
| Class 2 | bāncipha | abāncipha | bāncipha | abanciphanga | abanganciphanga | benganciphanga |
| Class 3 | wāncipha | owāncipha | wāncipha | awunciphanga | onganciphanga | unganciphanga |
| Class 4 | yāncipha | eyāncipha | yāncipha | ayinciphanga | enganciphanga | inganciphanga |
| Class 5 | lāncipha | elāncipha | lāncipha | alinciphanga | elinganciphanga | linganciphanga |
| Class 6 | āncipha | āncipha | āncipha | awanciphanga | anganciphanga | enganciphanga |
| Class 7 | sāncipha | esāncipha | sāncipha | asinciphanga | esinganciphanga | singanciphanga |
| Class 8 | zāncipha | ezāncipha | zāncipha | azinciphanga | ezinganciphanga | zinganciphanga |
| Class 9 | yāncipha | eyāncipha | yāncipha | ayinciphanga | enganciphanga | inganciphanga |
| Class 10 | zāncipha | ezāncipha | zāncipha | azinciphanga | ezinganciphanga | zinganciphanga |
| Class 11 | lwāncipha | olwāncipha | lwāncipha | alunciphanga | olunganciphanga | lunganciphanga |
| Class 14 | bāncipha | obāncipha | bāncipha | abunciphanga | obunganciphanga | bunganciphanga |
| Class 15 | kwāncipha | okwāncipha | kwāncipha | akunciphanga | okunganciphanga | kunganciphanga |
| Class 17 | kwāncipha | okwāncipha | kwāncipha | akunciphanga | okunganciphanga | kunganciphanga |
| | Potential | Potential | Potential | Potential | Potential | Potential |
| | Positive absolute | Positive relative | Positive participial | Negative absolute | Negative relative | Negative participial |
| 1st singular | ngingancipha | — | ngingancipha | ngingenciphe | — | ngingenciphe |
| 2nd singular | ungancipha | — | ungancipha | ungenciphe | — | ungenciphe |
| 1st plural | singancipha | — | singancipha | singenciphe | — | singenciphe |
| 2nd plural | ningancipha | — | ningancipha | ningenciphe | — | ningenciphe |
| Class 1 | angancipha | — | engancipha | angenciphe | — | engenciphe |
| Class 2 | bangancipha | — | bengancipha | bangenciphe | — | bengenciphe |
| Class 3 | ungancipha | — | ungancipha | ungenciphe | — | ungenciphe |
| Class 4 | ingancipha | — | ingancipha | ingenciphe | — | ingenciphe |
| Class 5 | lingancipha | — | lingancipha | lingenciphe | — | lingenciphe |
| Class 6 | angancipha | — | engancipha | angenciphe | — | engenciphe |
| Class 7 | singancipha | — | singancipha | singenciphe | — | singenciphe |
| Class 8 | zingancipha | — | zingancipha | zingenciphe | — | zingenciphe |
| Class 9 | ingancipha | — | ingancipha | ingenciphe | — | ingenciphe |
| Class 10 | zingancipha | — | zingancipha | zingenciphe | — | zingenciphe |
| Class 11 | lungancipha | — | lungancipha | lungenciphe | — | lungenciphe |
| Class 14 | bungancipha | — | bungancipha | bungenciphe | — | bungenciphe |
| Class 15 | kungancipha | — | kungancipha | kungenciphe | — | kungenciphe |
| Class 17 | kungancipha | — | kungancipha | kungenciphe | — | kungenciphe |
| | Immediate future | Immediate future | Immediate future | Immediate future | Immediate future | Immediate future |
| | Positive absolute | Positive relative | Positive participial | Negative absolute | Negative relative | Negative participial |
| 1st singular | ngizoncipha | engizoncipha | ngizoncipha | angizuncipha | engingezuncipha | ngingezuncipha |
| 2nd singular | uzoncipha | ozoncipha | uzoncipha | awuzuncipha | ongezuncipha | ungezuncipha |
| 1st plural | sizoncipha | esizoncipha | sizoncipha | asizuncipha | esingezuncipha | singezuncipha |
| 2nd plural | nizoncipha | enizoncipha | nizoncipha | anizuncipha | eningezuncipha | ningezuncipha |
| Class 1 | uzoncipha | ozoncipha | ezoncipha | akazuncipha | ongezuncipha | engezuncipha |
| Class 2 | bazoncipha | abazoncipha | bezoncipha | abazuncipha | abangezuncipha | bengezuncipha |
| Class 3 | uzoncipha | ozoncipha | uzoncipha | awuzuncipha | ongezuncipha | ungezuncipha |
| Class 4 | izoncipha | ezoncipha | izoncipha | ayizuncipha | engezuncipha | ingezuncipha |
| Class 5 | lizoncipha | elizoncipha | lizoncipha | alizuncipha | elingezuncipha | lingezuncipha |
| Class 6 | azoncipha | azoncipha | ezoncipha | awazuncipha | angezuncipha | engezuncipha |
| Class 7 | sizoncipha | esizoncipha | sizoncipha | asizuncipha | esingezuncipha | singezuncipha |
| Class 8 | zizoncipha | ezizoncipha | zizoncipha | azizuncipha | ezingezuncipha | zingezuncipha |
| Class 9 | izoncipha | ezoncipha | izoncipha | ayizuncipha | engezuncipha | ingezuncipha |
| Class 10 | zizoncipha | ezizoncipha | zizoncipha | azizuncipha | ezingezuncipha | zingezuncipha |
| Class 11 | luzoncipha | oluzoncipha | luzoncipha | aluzuncipha | olungezuncipha | lungezuncipha |
| Class 14 | buzoncipha | obuzoncipha | buzoncipha | abuzuncipha | obungezuncipha | bungezuncipha |
| Class 15 | kuzoncipha | okuzoncipha | kuzoncipha | akuzuncipha | okungezuncipha | kungezuncipha |
| Class 17 | kuzoncipha | okuzoncipha | kuzoncipha | akuzuncipha | okungezuncipha | kungezuncipha |
| | Remote future | Remote future | Remote future | Remote future | Remote future | Remote future |
| | Positive absolute | Positive relative | Positive participial | Negative absolute | Negative relative | Negative participial |
| 1st singular | ngiyoncipha | engiyoncipha | ngiyoncipha | angiyuncipha | engingeyuncipha | ngingeyuncipha |
| 2nd singular | uyoncipha | oyoncipha | uyoncipha | awuyuncipha | ongeyuncipha | ungeyuncipha |
| 1st plural | siyoncipha | esiyoncipha | siyoncipha | asiyuncipha | esingeyuncipha | singeyuncipha |
| 2nd plural | niyoncipha | eniyoncipha | niyoncipha | aniyuncipha | eningeyuncipha | ningeyuncipha |
| Class 1 | uyoncipha | oyoncipha | eyoncipha | akayuncipha | ongeyuncipha | engeyuncipha |
| Class 2 | bayoncipha | abayoncipha | beyoncipha | abayuncipha | abangeyuncipha | bengeyuncipha |
| Class 3 | uyoncipha | oyoncipha | uyoncipha | awuyuncipha | ongeyuncipha | ungeyuncipha |
| Class 4 | iyoncipha | eyoncipha | iyoncipha | ayiyuncipha | engeyuncipha | ingeyuncipha |
| Class 5 | liyoncipha | eliyoncipha | liyoncipha | aliyuncipha | elingeyuncipha | lingeyuncipha |
| Class 6 | ayoncipha | ayoncipha | eyoncipha | awayuncipha | angeyuncipha | engeyuncipha |
| Class 7 | siyoncipha | esiyoncipha | siyoncipha | asiyuncipha | esingeyuncipha | singeyuncipha |
| Class 8 | ziyoncipha | eziyoncipha | ziyoncipha | aziyuncipha | ezingeyuncipha | zingeyuncipha |
| Class 9 | iyoncipha | eyoncipha | iyoncipha | ayiyuncipha | engeyuncipha | ingeyuncipha |
| Class 10 | ziyoncipha | eziyoncipha | ziyoncipha | aziyuncipha | ezingeyuncipha | zingeyuncipha |
| Class 11 | luyoncipha | oluyoncipha | luyoncipha | aluyuncipha | olungeyuncipha | lungeyuncipha |
| Class 14 | buyoncipha | obuyoncipha | buyoncipha | abuyuncipha | obungeyuncipha | bungeyuncipha |
| Class 15 | kuyoncipha | okuyoncipha | kuyoncipha | akuyuncipha | okungeyuncipha | kungeyuncipha |
| Class 17 | kuyoncipha | okuyoncipha | kuyoncipha | akuyuncipha | okungeyuncipha | kungeyuncipha |
| | Present subjunctive | Present subjunctive |
| | Positive | Negative |
| 1st singular | nginciphe | nginganciphi |
| 2nd singular | unciphe | unganciphi |
| 1st plural | sinciphe | singanciphi |
| 2nd plural | ninciphe | ninganciphi |
| Class 1 | anciphe | anganciphi |
| Class 2 | banciphe | banganciphi |
| Class 3 | unciphe | unganciphi |
| Class 4 | inciphe | inganciphi |
| Class 5 | linciphe | linganciphi |
| Class 6 | anciphe | anganciphi |
| Class 7 | sinciphe | singanciphi |
| Class 8 | zinciphe | zinganciphi |
| Class 9 | inciphe | inganciphi |
| Class 10 | zinciphe | zinganciphi |
| Class 11 | lunciphe | lunganciphi |
| Class 14 | bunciphe | bunganciphi |
| Class 15 | kunciphe | kunganciphi |
| Class 17 | kunciphe | kunganciphi |
| | Past subjunctive | Past subjunctive |
| | Positive | Negative |
| 1st singular | ngancipha | ngangancipha, angancipha, angangancipha |
| 2nd singular | wancipha | wangancipha, awancipha, awangancipha |
| 1st plural | sancipha | sangancipha, asancipha, asangancipha |
| 2nd plural | nancipha | nangancipha, anancipha, anangancipha |
| Class 1 | wancipha | wangancipha, akancipha, akangancipha |
| Class 2 | bancipha | bangancipha, abancipha, abangancipha |
| Class 3 | wancipha | wangancipha, awancipha, awangancipha |
| Class 4 | yancipha | yangancipha, ayancipha, ayangancipha |
| Class 5 | lancipha | langancipha, alancipha, alangancipha |
| Class 6 | ancipha | angancipha, awancipha, awangancipha |
| Class 7 | sancipha | sangancipha, asancipha, asangancipha |
| Class 8 | zancipha | zangancipha, azancipha, azangancipha |
| Class 9 | yancipha | yangancipha, ayancipha, ayangancipha |
| Class 10 | zancipha | zangancipha, azancipha, azangancipha |
| Class 11 | lwancipha | lwangancipha, alwancipha, alwangancipha |
| Class 14 | bancipha | bangancipha, abancipha, abangancipha |
| Class 15 | kwancipha | kwangancipha, akwancipha, akwangancipha |
| Class 17 | kwancipha | kwangancipha, akwancipha, akwangancipha |

### References

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