Greetings & Basic Personal Details

Vocabulary and key phrases for greetings, self-introductions, basic personal details, and everyday conversational expressions.

Palatal click Q

iqaqa, iqaba, iqanda

Lateral click X

ixoxo, uxolo, xela, isiXhosa

Dental click C

icici, cela, cula

Molo

To greet one person

Molweni

To greet more than one person

Kunjani?

How is (it) / How are you?

Ndiphilile enkosi, unjani wena?

I am fine thanks, and you?

Kushushu

It is hot

Ndidiniwe

I am tired

Kuyabanda

It is cold

Kuyanetha

It is raining

Kuyaqhuma / kukho umoya

It is windy

(U)ngubani igama lakho?

What is your name?

NguXolani igama lam

Xolani is my name

Wena (u)ngubani igama lakho?

And you, what is your name?[

Mna, NdinguQaqamba / nguQaqamba igama

I am Qaqamba / My name is Qaqamba

Molo, ndinguXabiso

Good day, I am Xabiso

Ndingumfundi eStellenbosch University

I am a student at SU

Ndingumfundi wobuNjineli

I am an Engineering student

Usuka phi?

Where do you come from?

Uzalelwe phi?

Where were you born?

Ndisuka eQonce

I come from King William's Town

Ndizalelwe eQonce

I was born in King William's Town

EKapa

Cape Town

EXesi

Middledrift

ERhawutini

Gauteng

EVostile

Worcester

Ebhayi

Port Elizabeth

EPitoli

Pretoria

Erhini

Grahamstown

Uhlala phi?

Where do you stay?

Ndihlala eStellenbosch

I stay in Stellenbosch

Abantu bakowenu / ohlala nabo ngoobani?

The people at home, who are they?

Uhlala nabani?

With whom do you stay?

Ndihlala nabazali

I stay with my parents

Ndihlala nomyeni wam

I stay with my husband

Ndihlala nenkosikazi yam

I stay with my wife

Ndihlala nefemeli yam / nosapho

I stay with my family

Ndihlala ndedwa / Ndiyazihlalela

I live alone / I live by myself

Ndihlala nabahlobo

I stay with friends

Ndihlala nabantwana

I stay with children

Ndihlala nabantwana basekhaya

I stay with my siblings

Ufunda / fundela ntoni?

What are you studying (towards)?

Ndifunda isiXhosa

I am studying isiXhosa

Ndifundela ubuNtlalontle

I am studying Social Work

Uyaphi ngoku?

Where are you going to now?

Ndiya eYunivesithi

I am going to the University

Ndiya eklasini

I am going to class

Ndiya esibhedlele

I am going to the hospital

Ndiya edolophini

I am going to town

Ndiyagoduka

I am going home

Andiyazi / Andazi

I do not know (about something)

Andimazi

I do not know (about someone)

Hamba(ni) kakuhle

Go well

Sala kakuhle

Stay well

Ndi-

I

Si-

We

Ni-

You (plural)

Ba-

They

Uxolo, andikwazi ukuthetha isiXhosa kakuhle

Sorry, I cannot speak isiXhosa well

Ndisafunda

I am still learning

Ndiyazama

I am trying

Wena, uyakwazi ukuthetha isiNgesi?

Can you / do you know how to speak English?

Ewe, ndiyakwazi

Yes, I can

Ewe, kancinci / kakuhle

Yes, a little / well

-inye

One1]

-zimbini

Two

-zintathu

Three

-zine

Four

-zintlanu

Five

-zintandathu

Six

-zisixhenxe

Seven

-zisibhozo

Eight

-zilithoba

Nine

-zilishumi

Ten

Ngomvulo

On Monday

Ngolwesibini

On Tuesday

Ngolwesithathu

On Wednesday

Ngolwesine

On Thursday

Ngolwesihlanu

On Friday

Ngomgqibelo

On Saturday

Ngecawa

On Sunday