Xhosa phrasebook

Xhosa (isiXhosa) is a language of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

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

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

Common diphthongs

Clicks

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

Basics

Common signs OPEN  vula CLOSED  vala ENTRANCE  EXIT  PUSH  PULL  TOILET  yangasese MEN  madoda WOMEN  bafazi FORBIDDEN

Hello. 

Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)

Hello. (informal) 

Kunjani.

How are you? 

Unjani? (singular):Ninjani? (plural)

Fine, thank you. 

Ndiyaphila.

And how are you? 

Wena unjani?

What is your name? 

Ngubani igama lakho?

My name is ______ . 

Igama lam ngu ______ .

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

My ... have been stolen. 

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

I've lost my ... 

Ndilahlekelwe yi ...

handbag 

isingxobo:ibhegi

passport 

pasipoti : ncwadi yokundwendwela

luggage 

mpahla

wallet 

spaji

Numbers

0 

-unothi

1 

-nye

2 

-mbini

3 

-ntathu

4 

-ne

5 

-hlanu

6 

-thandathu

7 

-sixhenxe

8 

-sibhozo

9 

-sithoba

10 

-shumi

Time

English expressions for telling the time commonly used by Xhosa speakers

Duration

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

Sunday 

iCawe

Monday 

uMvulo

Tuesday 

uLwesibini

Wednesday 

uLwesithathu

Thursday 

uLwesine

Friday 

uLweshlanu

Saturday 

uMgqibelo

Months

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

black 

mnyama

blue 

luhlaza

brown 

ntsundu

green 

luhlaza

orange 

orenji

red 

bomvu

white 

mhlophe

yellow 

mthubi

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

How much is it to...? 

Yimalini ukuya e...?

Take me to this address. 

Ndise kule dilesi.

Please stop here. 

Yima apha.

Lodging

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

Money 

Imali

In cash 

eziinkozo

Cheque 

itsheke

Postal order 

Coins 

imali eziinkozo

Notes 

imali engamaphepa

Expensive 

ixabisa kakhulu :iyabiza

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Turn

jika

Left

ekhohlo

Right

ekunene

Stop

( 'stop the car' ): misa or ('yima')

Go

hamba

Forward

phambili

Go forward

bheka phambili

Straight ahead

phambili

Gravel road

indlela yomhlaba

Authority

Emergency

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

Telephone 

Umnxeba

Telegram 

Ucingo

Mobile or Cellphone 

('makhal'ekhukhwini'? / 'nomyayi'? / 'umnxeba wasesinqeni'?)

Make a call 

tsala umnxeba

Give So&So a call 

tsalela u So&So umnxeba

Mail 

Iposi

By post : ngeposi

Fast mail 

iposi engxamisekileyo