🇿🇦Afrique du Sud (Cap-Oriental)
Xhosa vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Xhosa vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Molo | Hello (one person) | Culture: "Molo" pour une personne, "Molweni" pour plusieurs. Langue à clics : le "c" se prononce comme un clic dental. |
| Molweni | Hello (several people) | |
| Ninjani? | How are you? (plural) | |
| Unjani? | How are you? (singular) | |
| Ndiphilile | I'm fine | |
| Nceda | Please / Help me | |
| Enkosi | Thank you | |
| Enkosi kakhulu | Thank you very much | |
| Sala kakuhle | Goodbye (to one staying) | |
| Hamba kakuhle | Goodbye (to one going) |
Food & drinks
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ukutya | Food | |
| Amanzi | Water | |
| Inyama | Meat | |
| Intlanzi | Fish | |
| Umngqusho | Corn and bean stew | Culture: L'umngqusho est le plat favori de Nelson Mandela, préparé avec du maïs concassé et des haricots. |
| Uphuthu | Dry corn porridge | |
| Amageu | Fermented corn drink | |
| Ubisi | Milk | |
| Isonka | Bread | |
| Itiye | Tea |
Family
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Utata | Father | |
| Umama | Mother | |
| Umntwana | Child | |
| Umzalwana | Sibling | |
| Indoda | Husband / Man | |
| Umfazi | Wife / Woman | |
| Utatomkhulu | Grandfather | |
| Umakhulu | Grandmother | |
| Usapho | Family | |
| Umhlobo | Friend |
Human body
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Intloko | Head | |
| Iliso | Eye | |
| Impumlo | Nose | |
| Umlomo | Mouth | |
| Indlebe | Ear | |
| Isandla | Hand | |
| Unyawo | Foot | |
| Intliziyo | Heart | |
| Isisu | Stomach | |
| Umzimba | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| inye | One | |
| zimbini | Two | |
| zintathu | Three | |
| zine | Four | |
| zihlanu | Five | |
| zintandathu | Six | |
| sixhenxe | Seven | |
| siviii | Eight | |
| lithoba | Nine | |
| lishumi | Ten | |
| lishumi elinanye | Eleven | |
| lishumi elinesibini | Twelve | |
| lishumi elinesitathu | Thirteen | |
| lishumi elinesiné | Fourteen | |
| lishumi elineshlanu | Fifteen | |
| lishumi elinezintandathu | Sixteen | |
| lishumi elinesixhenxe | Seventeen | |
| lishumi elinesiviii | Eighteen | |
| lishumi elinethoba | Nineteen | |
| amashumi amabini | Twenty |
Colors
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mhlophe | White | |
| mnyama | Black | |
| bomvu | Red | |
| luhlaza okwesibhakabhaka | Blue | |
| luhlaza | Green | |
| liphuzi | Yellow | |
| gqamile | Grey | |
| mdaka | Brown |
Animals
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ingonyama | Lion | |
| Indlovu | Elephant | |
| Inja | Dog | |
| Inkukhu | Chicken | |
| Inkomo | Cow | Culture: Le bétail (inkomo) est symbole de richesse et de statut social en culture xhosa. La dot (lobola) se paye en bovins. |
| Ibhokhwe | Goat | |
| Intlanzi | Fish | |
| Umrhwebi | Bird | |
| Ingwe | Leopard | |
| Impisi | Hyena |
Home & daily life
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Indlu | House | |
| Ucango | Door | |
| Igumbi | Room | |
| Imakethe | Market | |
| Isikolo | School | |
| Imali | Money | |
| Impahla | Clothes | |
| Umlilo | Fire | |
| Umsebenzi | Work | |
| Ubuntu | Humanity / Solidarity | Culture: "Ubuntu", "Je suis parce que nous sommes", est la philosophie africaine fondamentale qui sous-tend toutes les interactions sociales xhosa. |
Time & weather
| isiXhosa | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Namhlanje | Today | |
| Izolo | Yesterday | |
| Ngomso | Tomorrow | |
| Ilanga | Sun / Day | |
| Ubusuku | Night | |
| Imvula | Rain | |
| Ubandakhanyo | Cold | |
| Ubushushu | Heat | |
| Umoya | Wind | |
| Ixesha lemvula | Rainy season |
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