Xhosa phrasebook

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.
; 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)
; 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

• 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
;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
; Make a call : tsala umnxeba
; Give ... a call :tsalela u ... umnxeba
; Mail : Iposi
; Fast mail : iposi engxamisekileyo