Xhosa (isiXhosa) is a language of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Vowels[edit]

a

like hard (IPA: a)

e

like in red (IPA: ε)

i

like in seen (IPA: i)

o

like in all (IPA: ɔ)

u

like in moon (IPA: u)

Consonants[edit]

d, f, h, j, l, m, n

Pronounced as in English

s, sh, v, w, y, z

Pronounced as in English

dl

Similar in sound to hl (see below)

g

always like g in go

hl

Place your tongue to the side of your mouth and expel the air (like Welsh ll sound)

ts

A hissing sound made by placing your tongue just above your teeth and ejecting air.

tsh

similar to dge in judge

ty

similar to dge in judge

r

pronounced like "ch" in Reich

Clicks[edit]

c

Place your tongue at the back of the teeth and suck in, like when expressing annoyance. (IPA: k|)

q

Place your tongue on the roof of the mouth and suck in, like imitating a clock's ticking. (IPA: k!)

x

Place your tongue on your upper right jaw and pull it down, as if urging on a horse. (IPA: k||)

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Hello.

Molo. (singular) :Molweni. (plural)

Hello. (informal)

Kunjani.uphilile

How are you?

Unjani? (singular):Ninjani? (plural) ndiphilile/siphilile

Fine, thank you.

Ndiyaphila.Nam

And how are you?

Unjani wena? philile

What is your name?

Ngubani igama lakho?

My name is Khanya Ngedle .

Igama lam ngu Khanya Ngedle.

Nice to meet you.

Ndiyavuya ukukwazi.

Please.

Ndicela.

Thank you.

Enkosi. :Ndiyabulela.

You're welcome.

Wamkelekile.

Yes.

Ewe.

No.

Hayi.

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Ndicela uxolo.:Uxolo.

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Uxolo andivanga.

I'm sorry.

Ndixolele.

Goodbyes

Uhambe/Usale kakuhle.:Hamba kakuhle. (go well) (singular)

Hambani kakuhle. (go well) (plural)

Sala kakuhle. (stay well) (singular)

Salani kakuhle. (stay well) (plural)

I can't speak Xhosa.

Andithethi isiXhosa.

Do you speak English?

Uyasithetha isingesi na?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Ukhona apha umntu othetha isiNgesi?

Good morning.

Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)

Good evening.

Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)

Good night.

Ulale kakuhle.

Good night (to sleep)

I don't understand.

Andiqondi.

I don't know.

Andazi.

Where is the toilet?

Iphi indlu yangasese?

Problems[edit]

My ... have been stolen.

I ... yam ibiwe. :I ... yam ibiwe.

I've lost my ...

Ndilahlekelwe yi ...

handbag

isingxobo:ibhegi

passport

pasipoti :ncwadi yokundwendwela

luggage

mpahla

wallet

spaji

Numbers[edit]

0

-unothi

1

zinye

2

zimbini

3

zintathu

4

zine

5

zintlanu

6

thandathu

7

sixhenxe

8

sibhozo

9

lithoba

10

lishumi

Time[edit]

English expressions for telling the time commonly used by Xhosa speakers

Duration[edit]

in the morning

kusasa

during the day

emini

in the evening

ngokuhlwa

in the afternoon

emvakwemini

at night

ebusuku

yesterday

izolo

today

namhlanje

tomorrow

ngomso

Days[edit]

Sunday

iCawa

Monday

uMvulo

Tuesday

uLwesibini

Wednesday

uLwesithathu

Thursday

uLwesine

Friday

uLweshlanu

Saturday

uMgqibelo

Months[edit]

January

Eyo Mqungu

February

Eyo Mdumba

March

eyoKwindla

April

uTshazimpunzi

May

eyoCanzibe

June

eyeSilimela

July

eyeKhala

August

eyeThupha

September

eyoMsintsi

October

eyeDwarha

November

eyeNkanga

December

eyoMnga

Colors[edit]

black

mnyama

blue

zuba

brown

mdaka

green

luhlaza

orange

orenji

red

bomvu

white

mhlophe

yellow

mthubi

Purple

msobo

Transportation[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

Directions[edit]

Taxi[edit]

How much is it to...?

Yimalini ukuya e...?

Take me to this address.

Ndise kule dilesi.

Please stop here.

Ndicela ume apha.

Lodging[edit]

I need a room.

Ndifuna igumbi.

One room

Igumbi elinye

Two rooms

Amagumbi amabini

Single room

Igumbi lomntu omnye

Double room

Igumbi labantu ababini

Per person

Umntu emnye

Bed and Breakfast

A meal

Isidlo

Beaverages or Drinks

Isiselo

Supper

Isidlo sangokuhlwa

Lunch

Isidlo sasemini

Dinner

Isidlo sasemvakwemini

Kitchen

Igumbi lokuphekela :Ekhitshini

Sharing

Kunye :ukwabelana

Money[edit]

Money

Imali

In cash

eziinkozo

Cheque

itsheke

Postal order

Coins

imali eziinkozo

Notes

imali engamaphepa

Expensive

ixabisa kakhulu :iyabiza :iyadura

Eating[edit]

• Meat

Inyama

• Chicken

Inkukhu

• Beef

Inkomo

• Water

Amanzi

• I'm allergic to..

Andiyityi i..

• I'm full,thank you

Ndihluthi, enkosi

• Can I please have..

ndicela i...

• Drink

Isiselo

Bars[edit]

Shopping[edit]

Driving[edit]

Turn

jika

Left

ekhohlo

Right

ekunene

Stop the car

misa:yima

Go

hamba

Forward

phambili

Go forward

bheka phambili

Straight ahead

phambili

Back

emva

Gravel road

indlela yomhlaba

Authority[edit]

Emergency[edit]

Help!

Nceda!

Look out!

Qaphela!

Call the police!

Biza amapolisa!

Get a doctor!

Biza ugqirha!

Go away!

Hamba

I'm ill.

Ndiyagula.

I'm lost.

Ndilahlekile.

Leave me alone!

Ndiyeke!

Stop thief!

Yima sela!

Communication[edit]

Telephone

Umnxeba

Telegram

Ucingo

Mobile or Cellphone

makhal'ekhukhwini:nomyayi

umnxeba wasesinqeni

Make a call

tsala umnxeba

Give ... a call

tsalela u ... umnxeba

Mail

Iposi

ngeposi (by post)

Fast mail

iposi engxamisekileyo