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Xhosa phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

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    Xhosa (isiXhosa) is a language of South Africa.

    Pronunciation guide

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    Vowels

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    a
    like hard (IPA: a)
    e
    like in red (IPA: ε)
    i
    like in seen (IPA: i)
    o
    like in all (IPA: ɔ)
    u
    like in moon (IPA: u)

    Consonants

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    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. Similiar to 'ts' in Tsunami
    tsh
    similar to 'ch' in chew
    ty
    similar to dge in judge
    r
    pronounced like "ch" in Reich

    Clicks

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    c
    Place your tongue at the back of the teeth and suck in, like when expressing annoyance. (IPA: k|)
    q
    Place your tongue on the roof of the mouth and suck in, like imitating a clock's ticking. (IPA: k!)
    x
    Place your tongue on your upper right jaw and pull it down, as if urging on a horse. (IPA: k||)
    kr
    Place the middle of the tounge at the back of the mouth ande let out air from throat,like imitatinghe sound of a cracking bone

    Phrase list

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    Basics

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    Common signs
    OPEN
    vula
    CLOSED
    vala
    ENTRANCE
    Ngena
    EXIT
    phuma
    PUSH
    thyala
    PULL
    tsala
    TOILET
    yangasese
    MEN
    madoda
    WOMEN
    bafazi
    FORBIDDEN
    Akuvmelekile
    Hello.
    Molo. (singular) :Molweni. (plural)
    Hello. (informal)
    Kunjani.uphilile
    How are you?
    Unjani? (singular):Ninjani? (plural) ndiphilile/siphilile
    Fine, thank you.
    Ndiyaphila.Nam
    And how are you?
    Unjani wena? philile
    What is your name?
    Ngubani igama lakho?
    My name is Khanya Ngedle .
    Igama lam ngu Khanya Ngedle.
    Nice to meet you.
    Ndiyavuya ukukwazi.
    Please.
    Ndicela.
    Thank you.
    Enkosi. :Ndiyabulela.
    You're welcome.
    Wamkelekile.
    Yes.
    Ewe.
    No.
    Hayi.
    Excuse me. (getting attention)
    Ndicela uxolo.:Uxolo.
    Excuse me. (begging pardon)
    Uxolo andivanga.
    I'm sorry.
    Ndixolele.
    Goodbyes
    Uhambe/Usale kakuhle.:Hamba kakuhle. (go well) (singular)
    Hambani kakuhle. (go well) (plural)
    Sala kakuhle. (stay well) (singular)
    Salani kakuhle. (stay well) (plural)
    I can't speak Xhosa.
    Andithethi isiXhosa.
    Do you speak English?
    Uyasithetha isingesi na?
    Is there someone here who speaks English?
    Ukhona apha umntu othetha isiNgesi?
    Good morning.
    Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)
    Good evening.
    Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)
    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

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    My ... have been stolen.
    I ... yam ibiwe. :I ... yam ibiwe.
    I've lost my ...
    Ndilahlekelwe yi ...
    handbag
    isingxobo:ibhegi
    passport
    pasipoti :ncwadi yokundwendwela
    luggage
    mpahla
    wallet
    spaji

    Numbers

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    0
    -unothi/unqothi
    1
    nye
    2
    mbini
    3
    ntathu
    4
    ne
    5
    ntlanu
    6
    ntandathu
    7
    sixhenxe
    8
    sibhozo
    9
    lithoba
    10
    lishumi

    Time

    [edit]
    English expressions for telling the time commonly used by Xhosa speakers

    Duration

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    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

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    Sunday
    iCawa
    Monday
    uMvulo
    Tuesday
    uLwesibini
    Wednesday
    uLwesithathu
    Thursday
    uLwesine
    Friday
    uLweshlanu
    Saturday
    uMgqibelo

    Months

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    January
    Eyo Mqungu
    February
    Eyo Mdumba
    March
    eyoKwindla
    April
    uTshazimpunzi
    May
    eyoCanzibe
    June
    eyeSilimela
    July
    eyeKhala
    August
    eyeThupha
    September
    eyoMsintsi
    October
    eyeDwarha
    November
    eyeNkanga
    December
    eyoMnga

    Colors

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    black
    mnyama
    blue
    zuba
    brown
    mdaka
    green
    luhlaza
    orange
    orenji
    red
    bomvu
    white
    mhlophe
    yellow
    mthubi
    Purple
    msobo

    Transportation

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    Bus and train

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    Bus-Ibhasi Train-Uloliwe

    Directions

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    Taxi

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    How much is it to...?
    Yimalini ukuya e...?
    Take me to this address.
    Ndise kule dilesi.
    Please stop here.
    Ndicela ume apha.

    Lodging

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    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

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

    Eating

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    • Meat

    Inyama

    • Chicken

    Inkukhu

    • Beef

    Inkomo

    • Water

    Amanzi

    • I'm allergic to..

    Andiyityi i..

    • I'm full, thank you

    Ndihluthi, enkosi

    • Can I please have..

    ndicela i...

    • Drink

    Isiselo

    Bars

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    Shopping

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    Driving

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    Turn
    jika
    Left
    ekhohlo
    Right
    ekunene
    Stop the car
    misa:yima
    Go
    hamba
    Forward
    phambili
    Go forward
    bheka phambili
    Straight ahead
    phambili
    Back
    emva
    Gravel road
    indlela yomhlaba

    Authority

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    Emergency

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    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

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    Telephone
    Umnxeba
    Telegram
    Ucingo
    Mobile or Cellphone
    makhal'ekhukhwini:nomyayi
    umnxeba wasesinqeni
    Make a call
    tsala umnxeba
    Give ... a call
    tsalela u ... umnxeba
    Mail
    Iposi
    ngeposi (by post)
    Fast mail
    iposi engxamisekileyo
    This Xhosa phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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