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

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

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

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.: 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

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

Shopping

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

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 ... 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.