A collection of useful phrases in Xhosa (isiXhosa), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State and Northern Cape in South Africa, and also in Botswana and Lesotho.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
| English | isiXhosa (Xhosa) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Wamkelekile |
| Hello (General greeting) | Molo (sg) Molweni (pl) |
| How are you? | Unjani? (sg) Ninjani? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ndiphilile enkosi, unjani wena? (sg) Ndiphilile enkosi, ninjani nina? (pl) |
| Long time no see | Kudala sagqibelana 'Mehlo madala Ingc' inde |
| What's your name? | Ngubani igama lakho? Lithini igama lakho? |
| My name is ... | Igama lam ngu ... |
| Where are you from? | Uvela phi? (sg) Usuka phi? (sg) Nivela phi? (pl) Nisuka phi? (pl) |
| I'm from ... | Ndivela e ... Ndisuka e ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndiyavuya ukukwazi (sg) Ndiyavuya ukunazi (pl) |
| Good day | Molo (sg) Molweni (pl) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Molo (sg) Molweni (pl) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Molo (sg) Molweni (pl) |
| Good night | Ulale kakuhle (sg) Nilale kakuhle (pl) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Hamba kakuhle (go well) - sg Sala kakuhle (stay well) - sg Hambani kakuhle (go well) - pl Salani kakuhle (stay well) - pl |
| Good luck! | Ube nethamsanqa! (pl) Nibe nethamsanqa! (pl) |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Impilo! |
| Have a nice day | Ube nemini emnandi (sg) Nibe nemini emnandi (pl) |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Ukonwabele ukutya kwakho (sg) Nikonwabele ukutya kwenu (pl) |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
'Ndlelantle Ube nohambo oluhle (sg) Nibe nohambo oluhle (pl) |
| Do you understand? | Uyaqonda? |
| I understand | Ndiyaqonda |
| I don't understand | Andiqondi |
| Yes | Ewe |
| No | Hayi |
| Maybe | Mhlawumbi |
| I don't know | Andazi |
| Please speak more slowly | Nceda uthethe ngokucothisa |
| Please say that again | Ndicela uphinde (sg) Khawuphinde utsho (sg) |
| Please write it down | Ndicela uyibhale phantsi (sg) Ndicela niyibhale phantsi (pl) |
| Do you speak Xhosa? | Uyakwazi ukuthetha isiXhosa? (sg) Niyakwazi ukuthetha isiXhosa? (pl) |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ewe, kancinci |
| Do you speak English? | Uyakwazi ukuthetha isiNgesi? (sg) Niyakwazi ukuthetha isiNgesi? (pl) |
| How do you say ... in Xhosa? | Uthini xa ufuna ukuthi ... ngesiXhosa? Yintoni ... ngesiXhosa? |
| Excuse me | Uxolo! Ndixolele! |
| I would like ... | Ndicela ... |
| Forgive me | Ndixolele |
| How much is this? | Yimalini le nto? Ibiza malini le nto? |
| Sorry | Uxolo Ndicela uxolo Ndiyaxolisa |
| Please | Ndiyacela Nceda |
| Thank you | Ndiyabulela Enkosi |
| Reply to thank you | Wamkelekile |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Liphi igumbi langasese? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Eli nene liza kuhlawla yonke into |
| This lady will pay for everything | Eli nenekazi liza kuhlawla yonke into |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ungathanda ukudanisa nam? |
| I love you | Ndiyakuthanda |
| Get well soon | Uphile kamsinyane |
| Leave me alone! | Ndiyeke! |
| Help! | Nceda! |
| Fire! | Umlilo! |
| Stop! | Yima! |
| Call the police! | Biza amapolisa! |
| Christmas greetings | Ube neKrismesi emyoli (sg) Nibe neKrismesi emyoli (pl) iKrisimesi emnandi Ndiyakunqwenelela iKrisimesi emnandi (sg) Ndiyaninqwenelela iKrisimesi emnandi (pl) |
| New Year greetings | Halala kulonyaka omtsha noNyaka omTsha ozele lithamsanqa |
| Birthday greetings | Wonwabele usuku lwakho lokuzalwa Ube nosuku lokuzalwa olumnandi 'Mini emnandi kuwe |
| Congratulations! | Huntshu! |
| One language is never enough | Ulwimi olunye alwanelanga tu |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Inqwelo etshitshiliza phezu kwamanzi izele ziipalanga |
Hear some Xhosa phrases:
Corrections by Kai Mckenzie
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Xhosa | Phrases | Numbers | Colours | Family words | Tower of Babel | Books about Xhosa on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]
Other collections of Xhosa phrases
http://www.salanguages.com/isixhosa/xhowrd.htm
http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/south-african-phrases-xhosa.html
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