Greetings and politeness in Xhosa
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Xhosa words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Xhosa phrases in this lesson
- 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
Greeting to one person, used throughout the day.
An ordinary greeting to an older man. The same greeting works all day; Xhosa does not need a separate morning formula.
The plural or respectful greeting, also used on arriving in the evening. There is no separate everyday evening greeting.
Say this to the person going. Sala kakuhle is for someone staying.
A friendly farewell, literally let us see each other.
Literally I request. Nceda is also used for please or help. The c marks a dental click.
A standard word of thanks.
Literally it is nothing, a reply to thanks.
Literally forgive me, addressed to one person. The x marks a side click.
Used for pardon or an apology. The x marks a side click.
Expresses pleasure in getting to know someone.