Xhosa phrasebook

Xhosa (isiXhosa) is a language of South Africa.

Vowels

 * a : like hard
 * e : like in red
 * i : like in seen
 * o : like in all
 * u : like in moon

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

Clicks

 * c : Place your tongue at the back of the teeth and suck in, like when expressing annoyance.
 * q : Place your tongue on the roof of the mouth and suck in, like imitating a clock's ticking.
 * x : Place your tongue on your upper right jaw and pull it down, as if urging on a horse.

Basics

 * 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

 * 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

 * 0 :-unothi
 * 1 : zinye
 * 2 : zimbini
 * 3 : zintathu
 * 4 : zine
 * 5 :zintlanu
 * 6 : ntandathu
 * 7 : sixhenxe
 * 8 : sibhozo
 * 9 : lithoba
 * 10 : lishumi

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 : iCawa
 * 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 : zuba
 * brown : mdaka
 * green : luhlaza
 * orange : orenji
 * red : bomvu
 * white : mhlophe
 * yellow : mthubi
 * Purple : msobo

Taxi

 * How much is it to...? :Yimalini ukuya e...?
 * Take me to this address. : Ndise kule dilesi.
 * Please stop here. :Ndicela ume 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 :iyadura

Eating
Inyama Inkukhu Inkomo Amanzi Andiyityi i.. Ndihluthi, enkosi ndicela i... Isiselo
 * Meat
 * Chicken
 * Beef
 * Water
 * I'm allergic to..
 * I'm full, thank you
 * Can I please have..
 * Drink

Driving

 * 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

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 ... a call :tsalela u ... umnxeba
 * Mail : Iposi
 * ngeposi (by post)


 * Fast mail : iposi engxamisekileyo