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From Wikitravel

Xhosa is a language of South Africa.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Common diphthongs

[edit] 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.

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Hello. 

. ('Molo' )

Hello. (informal) 

. ( )

How are you? 

Unjani?

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. ('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 andivanga.

I'm sorry. 

. ('ndixolele' )

Goodbye 

Uhambe/Usale kakuhle.

Goodbye (informal) 

. ( )

I can't speak Xhosa. 

Andisithethi isiXhosa.

Do you speak English? 

Uyasithetha isingesi na?

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

 ? ('Ukhona apha umntu othetha isiNgesi' ?)

Good morning. 

Molo.

Good evening. 

. ('Molo' )

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' ?)

[edit] Problems

My ... have been stolen. 

I ... yam intshontshiwe. or ('I ... yam ibiwe' )

I've lost my ... 

Ngilahlekelwe yi ...

handbag 

isingxobo

passport 

pasipoti ('incwadi yokundwendwela' )

luggage 

mpahla

wallet 

spaji

[edit] Numbers

0 

unothi

1 

-nye

2 

-mbini

3 

-ntathu

4 

-ne

5 

hlanu

6 

-thandathu

7 

-sixhenxe

8 

-sibhozo

9 

-sithoba

10 

-shumi

[edit] Time

English expressions for telling the time are commonly used by Xhosa speakers

[edit] 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

[edit] Days

Sunday 

iCawe

Monday 

uMvulo

Tuesday 

uLwesibini

Wednesday 

uLwesithathu

Thursday 

uLwesine

Friday 

uLweshlanu

Saturday 

uMgqibelo

[edit] 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

[edit] Colors

black 

mnyama

blue 

luhlaza

brown 

ntsundu

green 

luhlaza

orange 

orenji

red 

bomvu

white 

mhlophe

yellow 

mthubi

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus and train

[edit] Directions

[edit] Taxi

How much is it to...? 

Yimalini ukuya e...? ( !)

Take me to this address. 

Ndise kule dilesi.

Please stop here 

Yima apha

[edit] 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')?

[edit] Money

Money 

Imali

In cash 

eziinkozo

Cheque 

itsheke ?

Postal order 

Coins 

imali eziinkozo

Notes 

imali engamaphepa

Expensive 

ixabisa kakhulu

[edit] Eating

[edit] Bars

[edit] Shopping

[edit] 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

[edit] Authority

[edit] 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!

[edit] 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