ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why Learn Xhosa?
International travel is made easier and more pleasant when you know Xhosa. Understanding Xhosa enhances your opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, etc. Acquiring a second language can improve your skills and grades in math and English. You can participate more effectively and responsibly in a multi-cultural world if you know Xhosa
Xhosa a Nguni Bantu language spoken by about 20 million people primarily along the southeastern coast of Africa. It is one of the official languages of South Africa and Zimbabwe and also spoken in Botswana and Lesotho. Xhosa-speaking people have inhabited coastal regions of southeastern Africa since before the 16th century. Nelson Mandela was a famous Xhosa man. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther, the language spoken in the fictional African nation of Wakanda is Xhosa.Xhosa Alphabet & Pronunciation
Xhosa is both a tonal language and a click language. It has two tones, high and low, and 18 click sounds. The first six are dental clicks (represented by the letter "c"), made with the tongue on the back of the teeth, and they are similar to the sound represented in English by "tut-tut" or "tsk-tsk" to reprimand someone. The next six are lateral (represented by the letter "x"), made by the tongue at the sides of the mouth, and they are similar to the sound used to call horses. The last six are alveolar (represented by the letter "q"), made with the tip of the tongue at the roof of the mouth, and they sound somewhat like a cork pulled from a bottle.
Basic Phrases in Xhosa
| Hello | Mholo |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | Sala kakuhle |
| Yes | Ewe |
| No | Hayi |
| Excuse me | Uxolo |
| Please | Ndiyacela |
| Thank you | Enkosi |
| You are welcome | Wamkelekile |
| Do you speak english | Ingaba uyasithetha Isingesi? |
| Do you understand | Uyaqonda? |
| I understand | Ndiyaqonda |
| I do not understand | Andiqondi |
| How are you | Unjani? |
| Fine thanks | Enkosi ndiyabulela! |
| What is your name | Ungubani igama lakho? |
| My name is | Igama lam ndingu |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndonwabela ukuhlangana nawe |
Xhosa Grammar
Xhosa Nouns
| Man | Indoda |
|---|---|
| Woman | Mfazi |
| Boy | Inkwenkwe |
| Girl | Intombazana |
| Cat | Ikati |
| Dog | Inja |
| Fish | Intlanzi |
| Water | Amanzi |
| Milk | Ubisi |
| Egg | Iquanda |
| House | Indlu |
| Flower | Intyatyambo |
| Tree | Umthi |
| Shirt | Ihempe |
| Pants | Ibhulukhwe |
Xhosa Adjectives
Colors in Xhosa
| Black | Mnyama |
|---|---|
| White | Mhlophe |
| Red | Bomvu |
| Orange | Orenji |
| Yellow | Lubhelu |
| Green | Luhlaza |
| Blue | Luhlaza |
| Purple | Mfusa |
| Pink | Lipinki |
| Gray | Ngwevu |
| Brown | Ntsundu |
Numbers in Xhosa
| Zero | Unothi |
|---|---|
| One | Inye |
| Two | Zimbini |
| Three | Zintathu |
| Four | Zine |
| Five | Zintlanu |
| Six | Isithandathu |
| Seven | Isixhenxe |
| Eight | Isibhozo |
| Nine | Isithoba |
| Ten | Shumi |
| Eleven | Ishumi elinanye |
| Twelve | Ishumi elinambini |
| Twenty | Amashumi amabini |
| Thirty | Amashumi amathathu |
| Forty | Amashumi amane |
| Fifty | Ishumi amahlanu |
| Sixty | Amashumi amathandathu |
| Seventy | Amashumi asixhenxe |
| Eighty | Amashumi asibhozo |
| Ninety | Amashumi aluthoba |
| Hundred | Ikhulu |
| Thousand | Iwaka |
Xhosa Verbs
| To be | Ukuba |
|---|---|
| To have | Ukufumana |
| To want | Ukufuna |
| To need | Ukufuna |
| To help | Ukunceda |
| To go | Ukuhamba |
| To come | Ukuza |
| To eat | Ukutya |
| To drink | Ukusela |
| To speak | Ukuthetha |
Building Simple Sentences
More Complex Xhosa Sentences
| And | Kwaye |
|---|---|
| Or | Okanye |
| But | Kodwa |
| Because | Ngoba |
| With | Nge |
| Also | Kananjalo |
| However | Nangona kunjalo |
| Neither | Hayi |
| Nor | Kananjalo |
| If | Ukuba |
| Then | Ke |
Useful Xhosa Vocabulary
Xhosa Questions
| Who | Ngubani |
|---|---|
| What | Intoni |
| When | Nini |
| Where | Phi |
| Why | Ngoba |
| How | Njani |
| How many | Zingaphi |
| How much | Yimalini |
Days of the Week in Xhosa
| Monday | UMvulo |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | ULwesibini |
| Wednesday | ULwesithathu |
| Thursday | ULwesine |
| Friday | ULwesihlanu |
| Saturday | UMgqibelo |
| Sunday | ICawe |
| Yesterday | Izolo |
| Today | Namhlanje |
| Tomorrow | Ngomso |
Months in Xhosa
| January | EyoMqungu |
|---|---|
| February | EyoMdumba |
| March | EyoKwindla |
| April | UTshazimpuzi |
| May | UCanzibe |
| June | Isilimela |
| July | EyeKhala |
| August | EyeThupha |
| September | EyoMsintsi |
| October | EyeDwarha |
| November | EyeNkanga |
| December | EtiMnga |
Seasons in Xhosa
| Winter | Ubusika |
|---|---|
| Spring | Intwasahlobo |
| Summer | Ihlobo |
| Autumn | Ekwindla |
Telling Time in Xhosa
| What time is it | Ngubani ixesha? |
|---|---|
| Hours | Iiyure |
| Minutes | Imizuzu |
| Seconds | Imizuzwana |
| O clock | Yintsimbi |
| Half | Isiqingatha |
| Quarter past | Kwikota edlulileyo |
| Before | Ngaphambili |
| After | Emva |