'''Xhosa''' is a language of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

; a : like '''a''' in hard ; e : like e in red ; i : like ee in seen ; o : like a in all ; u : like oo in moon

Consonants

; d, f, h, j, l, m, n : Pronounced as in English ; s, sh, v, w, y, z : Pronounced as in English ; dl : Similar in sound to hl (''see below'') ; g : always like g in go ; hl : Place your tongue to the side of your mouth and expel the air (''like Welsh ll sound'') ; ts : A hissing sound made by placing your tongue just above your teeth and ejecting air. ; tsh : similar to dge in judge ; ty : similar to dge in judge ; r : pronounced like "ch" in Reich

Common diphthongs

Clicks

; c : Place your tongue at the back of the teeth and suck in, like when expressing annoyance. ; q : Place your tongue on the roof of the mouth and suck in, like imitating a clock's ticking. ; x : Place your tongue on your upper right jaw and pull it down, as if urging on a horse.

Phrase list

Basics

; Hello. : . ('Molo' '') ; Hello. (''informal'') : . ('' '') ; How are you? : Unjani? ; Fine, thank you. : Ndiyaphila. ; And how are you? : Wena unjani? ; What is your name? : Ngubani igama lakho? ; My name is ______ . : Igama lam ngu ______ . ; Nice to meet you. : Ndiyavuya ukukwazi. ; Please. : Ndicela. ('Ndiyacela' '') ; Thank you. : Enkosi. or ('Ndiyabulela') ; You're welcome. : . ('wamkelekile' '') ; Yes. : Ewe. ; No. : Hayi. ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : . ('ndicela uxolo '') or ('uxolo '') ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Uxolo andivanga. ; I'm sorry. : . ('ndixolele' '') ; Goodbye : Uhambe/Usale kakuhle. ; Goodbye (''informal'') : . ('' '') ; I can't speak Xhosa. : Andisithethi isiXhosa. ; Do you speak English? : Uyasithetha isingesi na? ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? ('Ukhona apha umntu othetha isiNgesi' ?'') ; Good morning. : Molo. ; Good evening. : . ('Molo' '') ; Good night. : Ulale kakuhle. ; Good night (''to sleep'') : . ('' '') ; I don't understand. : Andiqondi. ; I don't know. : Andazi. ; Where is the toilet? : ? ('Iphi indlu yangasese' ?'')

Problems

; My ... have been stolen. : I ... yam intshontshiwe. or ('I ... yam ibiwe' '') ; I've lost my ... : Ngilahlekelwe yi ... ; handbag : isingxobo ; passport : pasipoti ('incwadi yokundwendwela' '') ; luggage : mpahla ; wallet : spaji

Numbers

; 0 : unothi ; 1 : -nye ; 2 : -mbini ; 3 : -ntathu ; 4 : -ne ; 5 : hlanu ; 6 : -thandathu ; 7 : -sixhenxe ; 8 : -sibhozo ; 9 : -sithoba ; 10 : -shumi

Time

; ''English expressions for telling the time are commonly used by Xhosa speakers''

Duration

; in the morning : kusasa ; during the day : emini ; in the evening : ngokuhlwa ; in the afternoon: emvakwemini ; at night : ebusuku ; yesterday : izolo ; today : namhlanje ; tomorrow : ngomso

Days

; Sunday : iCawe ; Monday : uMvulo ; Tuesday : uLwesibini ; Wednesday : uLwesithathu ; Thursday : uLwesine ; Friday : uLweshlanu ; Saturday : uMgqibelo

Months

; January : uMdumba ; February : uMthupha ; March : ukwindla ; April : uThazimpunzi ; May : uCanzibe ; June : uSilimela ; July : uNtulikazi ; August : eyeKhala ; September : eyoMsintsi ; October : eyeDwarha ; November : eyeNkanga ; December : eyoMnga

Colors

; black : mnyama ; blue : luhlaza ; brown : ntsundu ; green : luhlaza ; orange : orenji ; red : bomvu ; white : mhlophe ; yellow : mthubi

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

; How much is it to...? : Yimalini ukuya e...? ('' !'') ; Take me to this address. : Ndise kule dilesi. ; Please stop here : Yima apha

Lodging

; I need a room : Ndifuna igumbi ; One room : Igumbi elinye ; Two rooms : Amagumbi amabini ; Single room : Igumbi lomntu omnye ; Double room : Igumbi labantu ababini ; Per person : Umntu emnye ; Bed and Breakfast : ; A meal : Isidlo ; Beaverages or Drinks : Isiselo ; Supper : Isidlo sangokuhlwa ; Lunch : Isidlo sasemini ; Dinner : Isidlo sasemvakwemini ; Kitchen : Igumbi lokuphekela ('Ekhitshini') ; Sharing : Kunye ('ukwabelana')?

Money

; Money : Imali ; In cash : eziinkozo ; Cheque : itsheke ? ; Postal order : ; Coins : imali eziinkozo ; Notes : imali engamaphepa ; Expensive : ixabisa kakhulu ; ;

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

;Turn: jika ;Left: ekhohlo ;Right: ekunene ;Stop: ('stop the car' ''): misa or ('yima') ;Go: hamba ;Forward: phambili ;Go forward: bheka phambili ;Straight ahead: phambili ;Gravel road: indlela yomhlaba

Authority

Emergency

; Help! : Nceda! ; Look out! : Qaphela! ; Call the police! : Biza amapolisa! ; Get a doctor! : Biza ugqirha! ; Go away! : Hamba ; I'm ill. : Ndiyagula. ; I'm lost. : Ndilahlekile. ; Leave me alone! : Ndiyeke! ; Stop thief! : Yima sela!

Communication

; Telephone : Umnxeba ; Telegram : Ucingo ; Mobile or Cellphone : ('makhal'ekhukhwini'? / 'nomyayi'? / 'umnxeba wasesinqeni'?) ; Make a call : tsala umnxeba ; Give So&So a call : tsalela u So&So umnxeba ; Mail : Iposi : By post : ngeposi ; Fast mail : iposi engxamisekileyo