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Xhosa overview

How to say hello, thank you and more in Xhosa

25 essential Xhosa phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.

Quick answers

Thank you

Enkosi

/en-KO-see/

Yes

Ewe

/EH-weh/

No

Hayi

/HA-yee/

Please

Nceda

/n-CEH-da/

Sorry

Uxolo

/oo-KHO-lo/

How are you?

Unjani?

/oon-JA-nee/

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First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • MoloHello (to one person)/MO-lo/
  • MolweniHello (to many)/mol-WEH-nee/
  • EnkosiThank you/en-KO-see/
  • Hamba kakuhleGoodbye (go well)/HAM-ba ka-KOO-shleh/
  • EweYes/EH-weh/
  • HayiNo/HA-yee/
  • NcedaPlease/n-CEH-da/
  • UxoloSorry/oo-KHO-lo/

Meeting people

Introduce yourself and ask how someone is

  • Igama lam ngu-AmaraMy name is Amara/ee-GA-ma lam ngoo a-MA-ra/
  • Ngubani igama lakho?What is your name?/ngoo-BA-nee ee-GA-ma LA-kho/
  • Unjani?How are you?/oon-JA-nee/
  • NdiphilileI am fine/n-dee-pee-LEE-leh/
  • AmanziWater/a-MAN-zee/
  • UkutyaFood/oo-KOO-tya/
  • UmhloboFriend/oom-SHLO-bo/
  • IndluHouse/IND-loo/

Counting

Numbers one to five and market basics

  • InyeOne/EE-nyeh/
  • ZimbiniTwo/zim-BEE-nee/
  • ZintathuThree/zeen-TA-too/
  • ZineFour/ZEE-neh/
  • ZintlanuFive/zeen-TLA-noo/
  • Yimalini?How much is it?/yee-ma-LEE-nee/
  • ImarikeMarket/ee-ma-REE-keh/
  • AmanziWater/a-MAN-zee/
  • Ndifuna ukuthengaI want to buy/n-dee-FOO-na oo-koo-TEH-nga/

Questions people ask about Xhosa

How do you say "thank you" in Xhosa?

"Thank you" in Xhosa is Enkosi, pronounced /en-KO-see/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "how are you?" in Xhosa?

"How are you?" in Xhosa is Unjani?, pronounced /oon-JA-nee/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

Is Xhosa hard to learn?

  • Three click letters, each with plain, aspirated and nasal versions.
  • Mutually intelligible with Zulu in many everyday situations.
  • Noun classes drive agreement across the whole sentence.

Where is Xhosa spoken?

South Africa, especially the Eastern and Western Cape — around 8 million first-language speakers. Writing system: Latin alphabet with c, q and x for clicks.

Can I learn Xhosa for free?

Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.

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