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Xhosa (isiXhosa) is a language of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

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Vowels

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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

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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

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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

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Basics

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Common signs
OPEN
vula
CLOSED
vala
ENTRANCE
Ngena
EXIT
phuma
PUSH
thyala
PULL
tsala
TOILET
yangasese
MEN
madoda
WOMEN
bafazi
FORBIDDEN
Akuvmelekile
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

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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

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

Time

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English expressions for telling the time commonly used by Xhosa speakers

Duration

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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

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Sunday
iCawa
Monday
uMvulo
Tuesday
uLwesibini
Wednesday
uLwesithathu
Thursday
uLwesine
Friday
uLweshlanu
Saturday
uMgqibelo

Months

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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

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black
mnyama
blue
zuba
brown
mdaka
green
luhlaza
orange
orenji
red
bomvu
white
mhlophe
yellow
mthubi
Purple
msobo

Transportation

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Bus and train

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Directions

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Taxi

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

Lodging

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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

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Money
Imali
In cash
eziinkozo
Cheque
itsheke
Postal order
Coins
imali eziinkozo
Notes
imali engamaphepa
Expensive
ixabisa kakhulu :iyabiza :iyadura

Eating

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  • 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

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Shopping

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Driving

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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

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Emergency

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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

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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
This Xhosa phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.