Learn Xhosa ten words at a time
isiXhosa
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Xhosa words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on.
- MoloMO-lo
- Hello
- Molo, tataMOH-lo TAH-ta
- Good morning
- Molwenimohl-WEH-ni
- Good evening
- Hamba kakuhleHAM-ba ka-KOO-hle
- Goodbye
- Sibonanesi-boh-NAH-neh
- See you
- Ndicelandi-CE-la
- Please
- Enkosien-KO-si
- Thank you
- Akukho ntoa-KOO-kho nto
- You're welcome
- Ndixolelendi-XO-le-le
- Sorry
- Uxolooo-XO-lo
- Excuse me
- Ndiyavuya ukukwazindi-ya-VOO-ya oo-koo-KWA-zi
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Ndingathanda...ndi-nga-THAN-da
- I would like...
- OkuO-koo
- This one
- Yimalini?yi-ma-LI-ni
- How much is it?
- Ndicela ibhilindi-CE-la ee-BHI-li
- The bill, please
- Ngekhadinge-KHA-di
- By card
- Ngemalingeh-MAH-li
- In cash
- Amanzia-MAN-zi
- Water
- Ikofuee-KOH-foo
- Coffee
- ItiEE-ti
- Tea
- Ibhiyaee-BHI-ya
- Beer
- Ngaphandle kwe...nga-PHAN-dleh kweh
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- EweE-we
- Yes
- HayiHA-yi
- No
- Kulungilekoo-loon-GI-le
- Okay
- Andiqondia-ndi-QON-di
- I don't understand
- Uthetha isiNgesi?oo-THE-tha ee-si-NGE-si
- Do you speak English?
- Ungaphinda?oo-nga-PHIN-da
- Can you repeat that?
- Kancinci, ncedakan-CIN-ci NCEH-da
- Slowly, please
- Yintoni le?yin-TOH-ni leh
- What is this?
- Ndifuna...ndi-FOO-na
- I need...
- Ungandinceda?oo-ngan-di-NCEH-da
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- InyeEE-nye
- One
- Zimbinizim-BI-ni
- Two
- Zintathuzin-TA-thoo
- Three
- ZineZI-ne
- Four
- Zintlanuzin-TLA-noo
- Five
- Zintandathuzin-tan-DAH-thoo
- Six
- Zisixhenxezi-si-KHEN-kheh
- Seven
- Zisibhozozi-si-BOH-zoh
- Eight
- Zilithobazi-li-THOH-ba
- Nine
- Ishumiee-SHOO-mi
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Unayo...?oo-NAH-yoh
- Do you have...?
- Iphi...?EE-phi
- Where is...?
- Kuvuliwekoo-voo-LEE-weh
- Open
- Kuvaliwekoo-va-LEE-weh
- Closed
- Ingxowa?een-GKHOH-wa
- A bag?
- Kubiza kakhulukoo-BEE-za ka-KHOO-loo
- Too expensive
- Ndibhukishilendi-boo-ki-SHEE-leh
- I have a reservation
- Ingaba isidlo sakusasa siqukiwe?in-GAH-ba ee-SID-lo sa-koo-SAH-sa si-QOO-ki-weh
- Is breakfast included?
- Yintoni iphasiwedi ye-Wi-Fi?yin-TOH-ni ee-pha-si-WEH-di yeh WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Ndingakwazi...?ndi-nga-KWAH-zi
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Itafile yabantu ababiniee-TAH-fi-leh ya-BAN-too a-ba-BEE-ni
- A table for two
- Ndicela imenyundi-CE-la ee-MEN-yoo
- The menu, please
- Ucebisa ntoni?oo-CEH-bi-sa NTOH-ni
- What do you recommend?
- Andityi...an-DI-tyi
- I don't eat...
- Ndine-aleji kwi...ndi-neh a-LEH-ji kwi
- I'm allergic to...
- Inyamaee-NYA-ma
- Meat
- Inkukhueen-KOO-khoo
- Chicken
- Intlanzieen-TLAN-zi
- Fish
- Kumnandikoom-NAN-di
- It's delicious
- Impilo!im-PI-lo
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Unjani?oon-JAH-ni
- How are you?
- Ndiyaphila, enkosindi-ya-PHEE-la en-KOH-si
- I'm fine, thanks
- Wena?WE-na
- And you?
- Ngubani igama lakho?ngoo-BA-ni ee-GA-ma LA-kho
- What's your name?
- Igama lam ngu...ee-GA-ma lam ngoo
- My name is...
- Uvela phi?oo-VE-la phi
- Where are you from?
- Ndivela e...ndi-VEH-la eh
- I'm from...
- Ndiyayithandandi-ya-yi-THAN-da
- I like it
- IntleEEN-tleh
- It's beautiful
- Wamkelekilewam-keh-LEH-ki-leh
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Liphi igumbi langasese?LI-phi ee-GOOM-bi la-nga-SE-se
- Where is the toilet?
- Ndingafika njani e...?ndi-nga-FEE-ka NJAH-ni eh
- How do I get to...?
- Ekhohloe-KHO-hlo
- To the left
- Ekunenee-koo-NE-ne
- To the right
- Ngqong-QO
- Straight ahead
- AphaA-pha
- Here
- Isikhululo sikaloliweee-si-khoo-LOO-lo si-ka-lo-LI-we
- Train station
- Ibhasiee-BHA-si
- Bus
- Isikhululo seenqwelo-moyaee-si-KHOO-loo-lo seh-en-QWEH-lo MOH-ya
- Airport
- Itikiti elinye, ncedaee-ti-KEE-ti eh-LIN-yeh NCEH-da
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- NgokuNGO-koo
- Now
- KamvaKAM-va
- Later
- Namhlanjena-MHLAN-je
- Today
- NgomsoNGOM-so
- Tomorrow
- Ngobu busukuNGOH-boo boo-SOO-koo
- Tonight
- Nini?NEE-ni
- When?
- Ivula ngeliphi ixesha?ee-VOO-la ngeh-LEE-phi ee-KHEH-sha
- What time does it open?
- Umzuzwana, ncedaoom-zoo-ZWAH-na NCEH-da
- One moment, please
- Imizuzuee-mi-ZOO-zoo
- Minutes
- Iiyureee-YOO-reh
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Nceda!n-CE-da
- Help!
- Biza ugqirhaBI-za oo-g-QI-rha
- Call a doctor
- Amapolisaa-ma-po-LI-sa
- Police
- Ikhemestiee-khe-MES-ti
- Pharmacy
- Isibhedleleee-si-BHED-le-le
- Hospital
- Ndilahlekilendi-lah-le-KI-le
- I'm lost
- Andiziva kakuhlean-di-ZEE-va ka-KOO-hleh
- I don't feel well
- Ibiweee-BI-we
- It was stolen
- Yimeko engxamisekileyoyi-MEH-ko eng-kha-mi-seh-KEE-leh-yo
- It's an emergency
- Ndiyekendi-YEH-keh
- Leave me alone