The Xhosa course
Learn Xhosa ten words at a time
isiXhosa
Ten games of ten words: the hundred 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.
Xhosa challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Xhosa · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- MoloMOH-loh
- Hello
- MoloMOH-loh
- Hi
- Molwenimohl-WEH-nee
- Good morning
- Lala kakuhleLAH-lah kah-KOO-hleh
- Good night
- Enkosi kakhuluen-KOH-see kah-KOO-loo
- Thank you very much
- Enkosien-KOH-see
- Thanks
- Wamkelekilewahm-keh-leh-KEE-leh
- You're welcome
- Ncedan-CHEH-dah
- Please
- Uxolooo-KHOH-loh
- Excuse me
- Hamba kakuhleHAHM-bah kah-KOO-hleh
- Goodbye
Xhosa · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Ibhotela enye, ncedaee-boh-TEH-lah EHN-yeh, n-CHEH-dah
- One beer, please
- Enye yale, ncedaEHN-yeh YAH-leh, n-CHEH-dah
- One of these, please
- Ikhawu enye, ncedaee-KHAH-woo EHN-yeh, n-CHEH-dah
- One coffee, please
- Mbini, ncedam-BEE-nee, n-CHEH-dah
- Two, please
- Enye entsha, ncedaEHN-yeh EN-tshah, n-CHEH-dah
- One more, please
- Mallini le?mahl-LEE-nee leh
- How much is it?
- I-bill, ncedaee-BILL, n-CHEH-dah
- The bill, please
- Ndingu...?n-DEEN-goo
- May I...?
- Impilo!im-PEE-law
- Cheers!
- Bless youbless YOO
- Bless you
Xhosa · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- EweEH-weh
- Yes
- HayiHAH-yee
- No
- Okayoh-KAY
- Okay
- KulungileKOOH-loon-GEE-leh
- Sure, no problem
- Andiqibaliahn-dee-KEE-bah-lee
- I don't know
- Andiqondiahn-dee-KHOHN-dee
- I don't understand
- Uthetha isiNgesi?oo-TEH-tah ee-see-n-GAY-see
- Do you speak English?
- Kancincikahn-CHEEN-chee
- A little
- Ngokukhethekileyon-goh-koo-keh-teh-KEE-leh-yoh
- Of course
- Konke kulungileKOHN-keh KOOH-loon-GEE-leh
- Everything is fine
Xhosa · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- EnyeEHN-yeh
- One
- Mbinim-BEE-nee
- Two
- Ithathuee-THAH-too
- Three
- Ineee-NEH
- Four
- Ishumiee-SHOO-mee
- Ten
- Amashumi amabiniah-mah-SHOO-mee ah-mah-BEE-nee
- Twenty
- Ikhuluee-KHOO-loo
- One hundred
- Iraniee-RAH-nee
- Rand
- Ngekadin-geh-KAH-dee
- By card
- Iimali zentshiseloee-ee-MAH-lee en-tshee-SEH-loh
- In cash
Xhosa · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- Isinkwaee-SEEN-kwah
- Bread
- Ubisioo-BEE-see
- Milk
- Itshiziee-TSHEE-zee
- Cheese
- Amanziah-MAHN-zee
- Water
- Isiketi?ee-see-KEH-tee
- A bag?
- Unayo...?oo-NAH-yoh
- Do you have...?
- Aphi...?AH-phee
- Where is...?
- Leleh
- This one
- Akukho enyeah-KOO-khoh EHN-yeh
- Nothing else
- Qhubeka kakuhlekoo-BEH-kah kah-KOO-hleh
- Have a nice day
Xhosa · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Itafile esintathuee-tah-FEE-leh eh-seen-TAH-too
- A table for two
- I-menu, ncedaee-MEN-yoo, n-CHEH-dah
- The menu, please
- Ikhawu enyeee-KHAH-woo EHN-yeh
- One espresso
- Iwine enyeee-WEE-neh EHN-yeh
- A glass of wine
- Ibhotela el'umlamboee-boh-TEH-lah el-oom-LAHM-boh
- Draft beer
- Umngqushooom-n-KHOO-shoh
- Umngqusho
- KulungileKOOH-loon-GEE-leh
- It's delicious
- Ngaphandle kwayon-gah-PHAHN-dleh KWAH-yoh
- Without ice
- Ezintwenieh-zeen-TWEN-ee
- To take away
- Azilungileyo njeah-zee-loon-GHEE-leh-yoh n-jeh
- Keep the change
Xhosa · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Unjani?oon-JAH-nee
- How are you? (polite)
- Uphilile?oo-pee-LEE-leh
- How are you? (casual)
- Ndiphililen-dee-pee-LEE-leh
- I'm fine
- Wena?WEH-nah
- And you?
- Intongilizwi?een-tohn-ghee-LEE-zwee
- What's new?
- Imvula ayikhule, nha?eem-VOO-lah ah-yee-KHOO-leh, n-hah
- Nice weather, huh?
- Ndiyakubona kwintangan-dee-yah-koo-BOH-nah k-wee-TAHN-ghah
- See you soon
- Ubusuku obuhleoo-BOO-soo-koo oh-boo-hleh
- Have a nice evening
- Kumela umkhulu wakhokoo-MEH-lah oom-KHOO-loo WAH-khoh
- Say hi to the family
- Ilungile njeee-LOON-ghee-leh n-jeh
- All the best
Xhosa · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Aphi ithoileti?AH-phee ee-thoy-LEH-tee
- Where is the toilet?
- Kwisohlwandlek-wee-soh-HLWAHN-dleh
- Left
- Kwintshonak-win-TSHOH-nah
- Right
- Kwelilizwik-weh-lee-LEE-zwee
- Straight ahead
- AphaAH-phah
- Here
- AphoAH-phoh
- There
- Ibasiee-BAH-see
- Bus
- Isikhulelo setreyiniee-see-khoo-LEH-loh seh-TRAY-nee
- Train station
- Itikiti enye, ncedaee-tee-KEE-tee EHN-yeh, n-CHEH-dah
- One ticket, please
- Misa apha, ncedaMEE-sah AH-phah, n-CHEH-dah
- Stop here, please
Xhosa · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- Namhlanjenahn-HLAHN-jeh
- Today
- KuseniKOOH-SEH-nee
- Tomorrow
- Izoloee-ZOH-loh
- Yesterday
- Ngokun-GOH-koo
- Now
- Emva kwexeshanaEHM-vah k-wee-KHEH-shah-nah
- Later
- Uxolo, ithuba ngubani?oo-KHOH-loh, ee-TOO-bah n-goo-BAH-nee
- What time is it?
- Mvulom-VOO-loh
- Monday
- Mgqibelom-khee-BEH-loh
- Saturday
- CaweCHAH-weh
- Sunday
- Ivikiphiee-vik-EE-phee
- The weekend
Xhosa · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Uncedo!oon-CHEH-doh
- Help!
- Biza igqirhaBEE-zah ee-KHEE-rah
- Call a doctor
- Umkhosioom-KHOH-see
- Police
- Umthengi weentsintsioom-THEN-ghee wee-een-TSEEN-tsee
- Pharmacy
- Isibhedleleee-see-BED-leh-leh
- Hospital
- Ndilahlwen-dee-LAHH-lweh
- I'm lost
- Ndindiswan-deen-DEE-swah
- I don't feel well
- Iselula yamee-seh-LOO-lah yahm
- My phone
- Yabolweyah-BOHL-weh
- It was stolen
- Kumnandi ekusenik-oom-NAHN-dee eh-koo-SEH-nee
- It's urgent