Xhosa Most Popular Words and Expressions (original) (raw)
Welcome to our Xhosa list of the most popular words and expressions. If you memorize the whole vocabulary below, you will be able to communicate with most people in Afrikaas without many issues. Make sure you add this list to your must read pages so that you don't forget the words.
Coffee 
ikofu
Milk ubisi
Breakfast isidlo sakusasa
Lunch isidlo sasemini
Dinner isidlo sangokuhlwa
Bread isonka
Cheese isonka samasi
Chicken inkukhu
Eggs amaqanda
Fish intlanzi
Food Ukutya
Fruit iziqhamo
Meat inyama
Sandwich Isangweji
Sugar iswekire
Tea iti
Tomatoes iitumato
Vegetables Imifuno
Water amanzi
Belt ibhanti
Clothes iimpahla
Coat idyasi
Dress ilokhwe
Glasses izibuko
Gloves iiglavu
Hat umnqwazi
Jacket ibhatyi
Pants (Trousers) iibhulukhwe
Ring umsesane
Shirt ihempe
Shoes izihlangu
Socks iikawusi
Suit isuti
Sweater ijezi
Tie utayi
Umbrella isambrela
Underwear impahla yangaphansi
Wallet isipaji
Watch iwotshi
Do you like my dress? uyayithanda na ilokhwe yam?
Book incwadi
Books iincwadi
Chair isitulo
Desk idesika
Dictionary isichazimazwi
Languages Amalwimi
Library ithala leencwadi
Laptop Ileptophu
Page iphepha
Paper iphepha
Pen ipeni
Question umbuzo
School Isikolo
Student umfundi
Teacher umfundisintsapho
University Ivasithi
I have a question Ndinombuzo
What's the name of that book? Yintoni igama laloncwadi?
Arm Ingalo
Back umqolo
Ear indlebe
Eye iliso
Face ubuso
Feet inyawo
Fingers iminwe
Hair inwele
Hand isandla
Head intloko
Heart intliziyo
Leg umlenze
Mouth umlomo
Neck intamo
Nose impumlo
Teeth amazinyo
She has beautiful eyes unamehlo amahle
Airplane inqwelomoya
Airport Isikhululo senqwelo moya
Bus ibhasi
Bus station Isikhululo sebhasi
Car imoto
Flight Ukundiza
Help Desk Idesika yoncedo
Hotel ihotele
Passport incwadi yokundwendwela
Taxi iteksi
Ticket itikiti
Tourism Inkcukacha ngezokhenketho
Train (noun) Uloliwe
Train station Isikhululo sololiwe
By train Ngololiwe
By car Ngemoto
By bus Ngebhasi
By taxi Ngeteksi
By airplane Nge ndizamshini
Do you accept credit cards? Niyayithatha ikhredithikhadi
How much will it cost? Izakuxabisa malini?
I have a reservation Ndibhukishile
I'd like to rent a car Ndingathanda ukuqasha imoto
I'm here on business /on vacation. Ndize apha ngezamashishini/iholide
Is this seat taken? Ingabe sithathiwe esisitulo?
Good luck! Ndikunqwenela okuhle
Happy birthday! Mini emnandi!
Happy new year! Unyaka omtsha omhle
Merry Christmas! Krisimesi emyoli
Baby umntwana
Boy Inkwenkwe
Brother Umtakwethu
Child (female) umntwana (oyintombazana)
Child (male) umntwana (oyindoda)
Cousin (female) umzala
Cousin (male) umzala
Daughter intombi
Father Utata
Girl intombazana
Grandfather utatomkhulu
Grandmother umakhulu
Husband umyeni
Man indoda
Mother umama
People Abantu
Sister udadewethu
Son unyana
Wife inkosikazi
Woman Umfazi
How old is your sister? mingaphi iminyaka kadade wenu?
What's your brother called? Ubizwa bani ubhuti wakho?
Actor Umdlali waseqongeni oyindoda
Actress Umdlali waseqongeni ongumfazi
Artist umculi
Businessman Usomashishini
Doctor ugqirha
Nurse Umongikazi
Policeman Ipolisa
Singer Imvumi
Student umfundi
Teacher umfundisintsapho
Translator umguquleli
He is a policeman Uli polisa
I'm an artist Ndingu mzobi
I'm looking for a job Ndikhangela umsebenzi
Days iintsuku
Monday umvulo
Tuesday ulwesibini
Wednesday ulwesithathu
Thursday ulwesine
Friday ulwesihlanu
Saturday umgqibelo
Sunday icawa
January eyoMqungu-
February eyoDumba
March eyoKwindla
April uTshazimpuzi
May uCanzibe
June eyeSilimela
July eyeKhala
August eyeThupha
September eyoMsintsi
October eyeDwarha
November eyeNkanga
December eyoMnga
Autumn eKwindla
Winter uBusika
Spring iNtlakohlaza
Summer iHlobo
Time Ixesha
Hour Iyure
Minute Umzuzu
Second okwesibini
I was born in July Ndizalwe kweyeKhala
I will visit you in August Ndiza kutyelela kweyeThupha
Cold Ukubanda
Hot Ubushushu
Rain imvula
Snow Ikhephu
Spring iNhlakohlaza
Summer ehlobo
Sun ilanga
Sunny libalele
Warm kufudumele
Wind Umoya
Windy kunomoya
Winter ubusika
It is raining kuyanetha
It is sunny kushushu
It is windy kunomoya --
It's cold Kuyabanda
It's hot Kushushu
Bed ibhedi
Bedroom igumbi lokulala
Computer Ikhompyutha
Door Icango
Furniture ifenitshala
House indlu
Kitchen ikitshi
Refrigerator isibandisi
Room igumbi
Television umabonakude
Toilet izindlu zangesese
Window ifestile
Can you open the window? Ungayivula ifestile?
I need to use the computer Ndidinga usebenzisa khompuyutha
Arabic isiArabiki
Moroccan AmaMoroko
Morocco Moroko
Chinese (language) isichina
Chinese (nationality) AmaChina
China china
English isingesi
British AmaBritane
Britain iBritani
American AmaMelika
America Imelika
French (language) isiFrench
French (nationality) AmaFrench
France iFrance
Italian (language) IsiTaliyane
Italian (nationality) AmaTaliyane
Italy eItali
Japanese (language) IsiJapane
Japanese (nationality) AmaJapanese
Japan e-Japane
Russian (language) IsiRashiya
Russian (nationality) AmaRashiya
Russia eRashiya
Spanish (language) IsiPenishi
Spanish (nationality) AmaSpanishi
Spain Espeyini
I don't speak Korean Andithethi siKoriyane
I speak Italian Ndithetha isiTaliyane
I want to go to Germany Ndifuna ukuya eJamani
I was born in Italy Ndizalelwe e-Italy
Black Mnyama
Blue Bhlowu
Brown Ntsundu
Colors Imibala
Green Luhlaza
Orange Orenji
Red Bomvu
White Mhlophe
Yellow Tyheli / Mthubi
I have black hair ndine nwele ezimnyama
Your cat is white Ikati yakho imhlophe
Far Kukude
Here Apha
Left Ekhohlo
Right Ekunene
Near kufuphi
Straight Phambili
There Phaya
Can I help you? Ndingakunceda?
Can you help me? Ungandinceda na?
Can you show me? Ungandibonisa?
Come with me! Yiza nam
I'm lost Ndilahlekile
I'm not from here Andingowalapha
Turn left Jika ekuxele
Turn right Jika ekunene --
Can you take less? Unga thatha okungaphantsi
Do you accept credit cards? Niyayithatha ikhredithikhadi
How much is this? Yimalini lento?
I'm just looking Ndiyajonga nje
Only cash please! Imali yodwa!
This is very expensive Axhomile amaxabiso ale
I'm vegetarian Nditya imifuno yodwa
It is very delicious! Kulu ncuthu mazangwa
May we have the check please? Sicela uhlolo
The bill please! Ndicela incwadi yetyala
Waiter / waitress! Umnikezi kutya oyindoda/ongumfazi
What do you recommend? (to eat) Ucebisa ntoni? (yokutya)
What's the name of this dish? Yintoni igama lesisidlo
Menu Incwadi yezidlo ezithengiswayo
Spoon Icephe
No problem! Akukho ngxaki
Accident ingozi
Ambulance isithuthi sezigulane
Doctor ugqirha
Headache intloko ebuhlungu
Heart attack Isifo sentliziyo
Help me ndincede
Hospital isibhedlele
Medicines amayeza
Pharmacy indawo yamayeza
Poison ityhefu
Police ipolisa
Stomach ache isisu esibuhlungu
Are you okay? Unjani?
Call a doctor! Biza ugqirha
Call the ambulance! biza inqwelo yezigulani
Call the police! biza amapolisa
Calm down! Yehlisa umoya
I feel sick Andiziva kamnandi
It hurts here Kubhlungu apha
It's urgent! Kungxamisekile
Stop! Yima!
Thief! Isela!
Animal Isilwanyana
Cat ikati
Dog inja
Horse ihashe
Do you have any animals? Zikhona na izilwanyana onazo?
I have a dog Ndine nja
Small Incinci
Big Inkulu
Tall Inde
Short Imfutshane
Cheap Amaxabiso aphantsi
Expensive Amaxabiso aphezulu
Good Kulungile
Bad Embi
Wrong Ayiyo
Right (correct) Lungile
New Intsha
Old (opposite of new) Indala
Young Mncinci
Old (opposite of young) Mdala
Difficult Kunzima
Easy Ilula
This is too expensive Amaxabiso axhomile
Am I right or wrong? Ingabe ndiyaphazama okanye ndiyichanile? --
Here Apha
There Phaya
Quickly Khawuleza
Really Nyani
Slowly Kancinci
Always Njalo
Never soze
Sometimes Ngamanye amaxesha
Next week Kuleveki izayo
Now ngoku
Soon Msinyane
Today namhlanje
Tomorrow ngomso
Tonight ebusuku
Yesterday izolo
Do you like it here? Uyakuthanda apha?
See you later! Ndizokubona mva
Thank you very much! Enkosi kakhulu
Woman umfazi
Women abafazi
Man indoda
Men amadoda
Boy Inkwenkwe
Boys Amakhwenkwe
Girl intombazana
Girls Amantombazana
Country Ilizwe
Countries Amazwe
We speak two languages Sithetha amalwimi amabini
Cat ikati
Dog inja
Woman umfazi
Women abafazi
Mother Umama
Sister Udadawethu
I have a dog Ndine nja
I speak Italian Ndithetha isiTaliyane
A French teacher is here Umfundisintsapho wesiFrench ulapha
The French teacher is here Umfundisintsapho wesiFrench ulapha
Some languages are hard Ezinye iilwimi zinzima
Many languages are easy Iilwimi ezinintsi zilula
The student speaks Korean Umfundi uthetha isiKorean
A student speaks Korean Umfundi uthetha isiKorean
Some students speak Korean Abanye abafundi bathetha isiKorean
In front of phambi kwe
Behind emva
Before ngaphambi
After emva
Inside ngaphakathi
With kunye
Without ngaphandle
Outside ngaphandle
On top of Ndiphezu kwe
Under ngaphantsi
And futhi
Between phakathi
But kodwa
For ye
From suka
In phakathi
Near Kufutshane
Or Okanye
Can I practice Italian with you? Ndinga funda isiTaliyane nawe?
I speak French but with an accent Ndithetha isiFrench kodwa ngendlela eyahlukileyo
Boy Inkwenkwe
Girl Intombi
Man Indoda
Woman umfazi
Father utata
Mother umama
Brother umtakwethu
Sister udadewethu
Cat (Masc.) Ikati
Cat (Fem.) Ikati
He is tall Mde
She is tall Mde
He is a short man Yindoda emfutshane
She is a short woman Ngumfazi omfutshane
One inye
Two zimbini
Three zintathu
Four zine
Five zintlanu
Six zintandathu
Seven isixhenxe
Eight sisibhozo
Nine lithoba
Ten lishumi
I mna
You wena
He yena
She yena
We thina
You (plural) wena
They bona
I love you Ndiyakuthanda
Me mna
You wena
Him yena
Her yena
Us thina
You (plural) Mna
Them bona
Give me your phone number Ndiphe inombolo yocingo yakho
I can give you my email Ndingakunika email yam
My eyam
Your yakho
His yakhe
Her yena
Our yethu
Your (plural) Yakho
Their yabo
His email is … I-email yakhe ithi....
My phone number is … Inombolo yocingo yam ithi....
How? Kanjani?
What? Intoni?
When? Nini
Where? Phi?
Who? Ubani?
Why? Kutheni?
Can I help you? Ndingakunceda?
Can you help me? Ungandinceda na?
Do you speak English? Uyasithetha isiNgesi?
How much is this? Yimalini lento?
What is your name? Ungubani igama lakho?
What time is it? Ngubani ixesha?
When can we meet? Singadibana phi?
Where do you live? Uhlala phi?
Who is knocking at the door? Ngubani onqonqoza emnyango?
Why is it expensive? Kutheni ixabiso liphezulu?
No Hayi
Nothing Akhonto
Not yet Hayi ngoku
No one Hayi mntu
No longer Ayisekho
Never Soze
Cannot Andizokwazi
Should not Akufanelanga
Don't worry! Ungaxhali
I cannot remember the word Andilikhumbuli igama--
I do not speak Japanese Andisithethi isiJapani
I don't know! Andiyazi
I'm not fluent in Italian yet Andika sulungeki ekuthetheni isiTaliyane kodwa-
No one here speaks Greek Akhomntu apha uthetha isiGriki--
No problem! Akukho ngxaki
To drive Ukuqhuba
To drive Ukuqhuba
To give Ukunika
To have Ukuba nento
To know Ulwazi
To understand Ukuvisisa
To work Ukusebenza
To write Ukubhala
He understands me Uyandiva mna
He understood me Undivile mna
He will understand me Uzakundiqonda
I see you Ndiyakubona
He reads a book Ufunda incwadi
He understands me Uyandiva mna
She has a cat Unekati
She knows my friend Uyamazi umhlobo wam
We want to learn Sifuna ukufunda
We think Spanish is easy Sicinga isiSpanish silula
They drive a car Baqhuba imoto
They smile Bayancuma
I saw you Ndikubonile
I wrote with a pen Ndibhale ngepeni
You loved apples Ubuzithanda i-apile
You gave money Ukhuphe imali
You played tennis Ubudlala intenetya
He understood me Undivile mna
She had a cat Ebene kati
She knew my friend Ebemazi umhlobo wam
We wanted to learn Besifuna ukufunda
They smiled Baye bancuma
I will see you Ndizokubona
I will write with a pen Ndizobhala ngepeni
He will read a book Uzakufunda incwadi
He will understand me Uzakundiqonda
We will think about you Sizakuncinga
Go! Hamba!
Stop! Yima!
Don't Go! Sohamba!
Stay! Hlala!
Come here! Yiza apha!
Be quiet! Thula
Go straight Hamba sitrayithi
Wait! Linda!
Let's go! Masambe!
Sit down! Hlala phantsi!
Good Kuhle
Better Ngcono
Best Kuhle kakhulu
Bad Kubi
Worse Kubi
Worst Kubi kakhulu
Taller Mde
Shorter Mfutshane
Younger Mncinci
Older Mdala
As tall as Mde oku kuka
Taller than Mde ukodlula
Shorter than Mfutshane kuno--
More beautiful Ucikiziwe kakhulu
Less beautiful Unomkhitha
Most beautiful Mhle kakhulu
Happy Konwaba
Happier Ukonwaba ukodlula
Happiest Ukonwaba uqhithise
You are happy Wonwabile
You are as happy as Maya Wonwabe njengoMaya
You are happier than Maya Wonwabe ukodlula uMaya
You are the happiest Wonwabe ukuboqhitha
Hi! Molo
Good morning! Molo ngentseni
Good afternoon! Molo emva kwemini
Good evening! Molo ngokuhlwa
How are you? (polite) Kunjani? (ngentobeko)
How are you? (friendly) Unjani? (ngobubele)
What's up? (colloquial) Kwenzeka ntoni? (intetho engekho mgangathweni)
I'm fine, thank you! Ndiphilile, enkosi
And you? (polite) Kwaye nawe (ngentobeko)
And you? (friendly) Kwaye nawe (ngobubele)
Good Kulungile
Do you speak English? Uyasithetha isiNgesi?
Just a little Kancinci nje
What's your name? Ngubani igama lakho
My name is (John Doe) Igama lam ndingu (John Doe)
Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss... Mnumzana/Nkosikazi/Nkosazana
Nice to meet you! Ndiyavuya ukwazi!
You're very kind! Unobuntu!
Where are you from? Ungenaphi?
I'm from the U.S Ndingo waseU.S
I'm American NdinguMelika
Where do you live? Uhlala phi?
I live in the U.S Ndihlala eU.S
Do you like it here? Uyakuthanda apha?
How old are you? Mingaphi iminyaka yakho?
I'm (twenty, thirty...) Years old Ndina (amashumi amabini, amashumi amathathu)eminyaka
Are you married? Utshatile?
Do you have children? Unabo abantwana?
I have to go Kumele ndihambe
I will be right back! Ndizobuya ngoku!
Nice to meet you! Ndiyavuya ukwazi!
Can I practice Italian with you? Ndinga funda isiTaliyane nawe?
My French is bad IsiFrench sam asisulungekanga
I need to practice my French Ndidinga ukweluleka isiFrench sam
Would you like to go for a walk? Ungathanda solule inyawo?
Can I have your phone number? Ndingayifumana inombolo yocingo yakho?
Can I have your email? Ndingayifumana email yakho?
Are you married? Utshatile na?
I'm single Andikazimanyi ngeqhina lomtshato
Are you free tomorrow evening? Ingabe awenzinto ngomso ebusuku?
I would like to invite you for dinner Ningathanda ukumema kwisidlo sangokuhlwa
Where do you live? Uhlala phi?
When can we meet? Singadibana phi?
Do you like it? Uyayithanda na?
I really like it! Ndiyayithanda gqithi!
I love you Ndiyakuthanda
Would you marry me? Unganditshata na?
I hope you enjoyed this lesson about the most used phrases and vocabulary in Xhosa. Please check out our main menu here for more lessons: homepage. Now check the next lesson below.
Inspirational Quote: A coward gets scared and quits. A hero gets scared, but still goes on.