Xhosa phrasebook

Xhosa is a language of South Africa. Pronunciation guide Vowels a  like a in hard e  like e in red i  like ee in seen o  like a in all u  like oo 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 Common diphthongs 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. Phrase list Basics Common signs OPEN  Vula CLOSED  Vala ENTRANCE  Ngena EXIT  Phuma PUSH  Thyala PULL  Tsala TOILET  indlu yangasese MEN  amadoda WOMEN  amabhinqa FORBIDDEN  akuvumelekanga Hello.  Molo. Hello. (informal)  Kunjani. How are you?  Unjani? Fine, thank you.  Ndiyaphila, enkosi. 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. ('Ndiyacela' ) Thank you.  Enkosi. or ('Ndiyabulela') You're welcome.  . ('wamkelekile' ) Yes.  Ewe. No.  Hayi. Excuse me. (getting attention)  . ('ndicela uxolo ) or ('uxolo ) Excuse me. (begging pardon)  Uxolo andi(ku)vanga. I'm sorry.  . ('ndixolele' ) Goodbye  Uhambe/Usale kakuhle. Goodbye (informal)  . ( ) I can't speak Xhosa.  Andi(si)thethi isiXhosa. or ('Andikwazi ukuthetha isiXhosa ) Do you speak English?  Uyasithetha isingesi na? or ('Uyakwazi ukuthetha isingesi' ? ) Is there someone here who speaks English?   ? ('Ukhona apha umntu othetha isiNgesi' ?) Good morning.  Molo. Good evening.  . ('Molo' ) Good night.  Ulale kakuhle. Sweet dreams.  Mathongo amnandi. 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. or ('I ... yam ibiwe' ) I've lost my ...  Ndilahlekelwe yi ... handbag  isingxobo or ibhegi passport  pasipoti ('incwadi 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 are 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   uMdumba February  uMthupha March  ukwindla April  uThazimpunzi May  uCanzibe June  uSilimela July  uNtulikazi August  eyeKhala 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 or 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 This is a usable phrasebook. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use it to get by, but please plunge forward and help it grow!