isiXhosa
Xhosa
Bantu (Nguni)
Xhosa (isiXhosa) is South Africa's second-most-spoken home language, with ~8M L1 + ~12M L2 (~20M total). It is a Nguni Bantu language closely related to Zulu, Swati, and Northern Ndebele, with the most extensive click consonant inventory in the Bantu family — 18 click phonemes across dental (ǀ), lateral (ǁ), alveolar (ǃ) series with voiced/voiceless/aspirated/nasal variants, all borrowed from Khoisan substrate. The language has penultimate stress, 18+ noun classes with full concordial agreement, and a written tradition since the 1820s Lovedale Mission press. Mother tongue of Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Steve Biko, Thabo Mbeki, and many other shapers of post-apartheid South Africa.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Xhosa
kkkk
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Bantu (Nguni)
| Meaning | Xhosa | Zulu | Northern Ndebele | Southern Ndebele | Swazi | Tsonga | Lozi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amanzi /amaːnzi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | emanti /emanti/ | mati /mati/ | mezi /mezi/ |
| Fire | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | ndzilo /ndzilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ |
| Sun | ilanga /ilaːŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | lilanga /lilaŋɡa/ | dyambu /dʒambu/ | lizazi /lizazi/ |
| Moon | inyanga /iɲaːŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyezi /iɲezi/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | nʼweti /ŋweti/ | kweli /kweli/ |
| Star | inkwenkwezi /iŋkʷeŋkʷezi/ | inkanyezi /iŋkaˈɲeːzi/ | inkanyezi /iŋkaɲezi/ | ikwekwezi /ikʷekʷezi/ | inkhanyeti /iŋkʰaɲeti/ | nyeleti /ɲeleti/ | naleli /naleli/ |
| Night | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | ubusuku /uɓusuku/ | busuku /ɓusuku/ | vusiku /vusiku/ | busihu /busihu/ |
| Rain | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | izulu /izulu/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | mpfula /ˈmpfula/ | pula /ˈpula/ |
| Snow | ikhephu /ikʰepʰu/ | iqhwa /iǃʰwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | lichwa /liǀʰwa/ | gamboko /ɡamboko/ | litwa /ˈlitwa/ |
| Wind | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | moya /moja/ | moya /moja/ |
| Earth | umhlabathi /umɬaɓatʰi/ | inhlabathi /inɬaɓatʰi/ | inhlabathi /inɬaɓaːtʰi/ | ihlabathi /iɬaɓatʰi/ | umhlabatsi /umɬaɓatsi/ | misava /misava/ | mubu /mubu/ |
| Stone | ilitye /iˈlitʼje/ | itshe /ˈiːtʃʼe/ | ilitshe /iliˈtʃe/ | ilitje /iliˈtʃe/ | litje /liˈtʃe/ | ribye /riˈbje/ | licwe /liˈtʃwe/ |
| Mountain | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intsaba /intsaɓa/ | ntshava /ntsʰava/ | lilundu /lilundu/ |
| Sea | ulwandle /uˈlwandɮe/ | ulwandle /uˈlwandɮe/ | ulwandle /ulwandɮe/ | ilwandle /ilwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | liwate /liwate/ |
| Mother | umama /umaːma/ | umama /umama/ | umama /umama/ | umma /umma/ | make /make/ | manana /manana/ | ma /ma/ |
| Father | utata /utaːta/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | babe /ɓaɓe/ | tatana /tatana/ | ndate /ndate/ |
| Daughter | intombi /inˈtombi/ | indodakazi /indodaˈkazi/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | indvodzakati /indvodzakaːti/ | nʼwana wa xisati /ŋʷana wa ʃisati/ | mwana wa musizana /mwana wa musizana/ |
| I | mna /mna/ | mina /ˈmiːna/ | mina /mina/ | mina /mina/ | mine /míne/ | mina /mina/ | na /na/ |
| You | wena /wena/ | wena /ˈweːna/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wéna/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ |
| We | thina /tʰina/ | thina /ˈtʰiːna/ | thina /tʰina/ | thina /tʰina/ | tsine /tsíne/ | hina /hina/ | luna /luna/ |
| Name | igama /iɡaːma/ | igama /iˈɡaːma/ | ibizo /ibizo/ | ibizo /iɓizo/ | libito /liɓiːto/ | vito /vito/ | libizo /libizo/ |
| Person | umntu /ˈumntu/ | umuntu /uˈmuntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | umuntfu /umuntfu/ | munhu /munʱu/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Head | intloko /intɬoːko/ | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | ihloko /iɬoko/ | inhloko /inɬoko/ | nhloko /nɬoko/ | toho /toho/ |
| Eye | iliso /iliso/ | iso /iso/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | liso /liso/ | tihlo /tiɬo/ | liito /liːto/ |
| Ear | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | ndleve /ndɮeve/ | zebe /zebe/ |
| Nose | impumlo /impuˈmlo/ | impumulo /impuˈmulo/ | ikhala /ikʰala/ | ipumulo /ipuˈmulo/ | likhala /likʰala/ | nhompfu /nʱompfu/ | ngo /ŋo/ |
| Mouth | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umlomo/ | nomu /nomu/ | mulomo /mulomo/ |
| Tooth | izinyo /iziɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | litinyo /litiɲo/ | tino /tino/ | liino /liːno/ |
| Tongue | ulwimi /ulwimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ilimu /ilimu/ | lulwimi /lulwimi/ | ririmi /ririmi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | sandla /sandɮa/ | voko /voko/ | lizoho /lizoho/ |
| Foot | unyawo /uɲaːwo/ | unyawo /uːɲaːwo/ | unyawo /uɲawo/ | inyawo /iɲawo/ | lunyawo /luɲawo/ | nenge /neŋɡe/ | lihutu /liˈhutu/ |
| Heart | intliziyo /intɬizijo/ | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | ihliziyo /iɬizijo/ | inhlitiyo /inɬitijo/ | mbilu /mbilu/ | pilu /pilu/ |
| Bone | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | litsambo /litsambo/ | rhambu /rambu/ | sapo /sapo/ |
| Blood | igazi /iɡazi/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | iingazi /iːŋɡazi/ | ingati /iŋɡati/ | ngati /ŋɡati/ | mali /mali/ |
| Poop | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | emasimba /emasimba/ | — | ñanda /ɲanda/ |
| Love | uthando /utʰando/ | uthando /utʰando/ | uthando /utʰando/ | ithando /itʰando/ | lutsandvo /lutsandwo/ | rirhandzu /riɾandzu/ | lilato /lilato/ |
| Tree | umthi /umtʰi/ | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | umuthi /umutʰi/ | sihlahla /siɬaɬa/ | nsinya /nsiɲa/ | kota /kota/ |
| Dog | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | mbyana /mbjana/ | nja /ndʒa/ |
| Cat | ikati /ikati/ | ikati /ikati/ | ikati /ikati/ | ikati /ikati/ | likati /likati/ | mangoyi /maŋɡoji/ | kaze /kaze/ |
| Fish | intlanzi /intɬanzi/ | inhlanzi /iɬanzi/ | inhlanzi /iɬanzi/ | ihlambi /iɬambi/ | inhlanti /iɬanti/ | nhlampfi /nɬampfi/ | tapi /tapi/ |
| Bird | intaka /inˈtaka/ | inyoni /iˈɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | xinyenyana /ʃiɲeˈɲana/ | nyunywani /ɲuɲwani/ |
| Butterfly | ibhabhathane /ibʱabʱaˈtʰaːne/ | uvemvane /uvemˈvaːne/ | ivevane /iveˈvane/ | iviyaviyani /ivijavijani/ | luvivane /luvivane/ | phapharhati /pʰapʰaˈrati/ | sipulumuki /sipulumuki/ |
| Egg | iqanda /iǃaːnda/ | iqanda /iǃaːnda/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | licandza /liǀandza/ | tandza /tandza/ | lii /liː/ |
| Bear | ibhere /ibʱere/ | ibhere /iˈbʱeːre/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | libhele /libʱele/ | bere /bere/ | bele /bele/ |
| Horse | ihashe /iˈhaʃe/ | ihhashi /iˈɦaːʃi/ | ibhiza /iˈbiza/ | injomani /indʒoˈmani/ | lihhashi /liɦaʃi/ | hanci /hantʃi/ | pizi /pizi/ |
| House | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | yindlu /jindɮu/ | ndu /ndu/ |
| Milk | ubisi /uˈbisi/ | ubisi /uˈbisi/ | uchago /uˈtʃaɡo/ | ibisi /iˈɓisi/ | lubisi /luˈɓisi/ | masi /masi/ | mabisi /mabisi/ |
| Honey | ubusi /ubusi/ | uju /udʒu/ | uluju /uludʒu/ | iliju /ilidʒu/ | luju /ludʒu/ | vulombe /vulombe/ | linosi /linosi/ |
| Salt | ityuwa /iˈtjuwa/ | usawoti /usaˈwoti/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | luswayi /luswaji/ | munyu /muɲu/ | lizwai /lizwai/ |
| Wine | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | liwayini /liwajini/ | vhinyo /viɲo/ | waine /waine/ |
| Rice | irayisi /iraˈjiːsi/ | irayisi /iɾaˈjiːsi/ | — | ireyisi /irejisi/ | lilayisi /lilajisi/ | rhayisi /rajisi/ | laisi /laisi/ |
| Chocolate | itshokolethi /itʃʰokoletʰi/ | ushokoledi /uʃokoˈleːdi/ | — | — | — | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | — |
| Iron | intsimbi /inˈtsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | isimbi /iˈsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | nsimbi /nsimbi/ | sipi /sipi/ |
| Wheel | ivili /iˈvili/ | isondo /iˈsondo/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | lisondvo /liˈsondvo/ | vhilwa /vilwa/ | liwili /liwili/ |
| Silk | isilika /isiˈliːka/ | usilika /usiˈliːka/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | silika /silika/ | silika /silika/ | siliki /siliki/ |
| Book | incwadi /iŋˈǀʷaːdi/ | incwadi /iŋˈǀʷaːdi/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | incwadzi /iŋǀʷadzi/ | buku /buku/ | buka /buka/ |
| Eat | ukutya /ukutʲa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | kudla /kuɮa/ | ku dya /ku dʒa/ | kuca /kutʃa/ |
| Drink | ukusela /ukusɛla/ | ukuphuza /ukupʰuza/ | ukunatha /ukunatʰa/ | ukusela /ukusela/ | kunatsa /kunatsa/ | ku nwa /ku nwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | kulala /kulala/ | ku etlela /ku eˈtɬela/ | kulobala /kulobala/ |
| One | inye /iɲɛ/ | kunye /kuɲe/ | nye /ɲe/ | nye /ɲe/ | kunye /kuɲe/ | rinʼwe /riŋwe/ | nyinwi /ɲiŋʷi/ |
| Two | mbini /mbiːni/ | kubili /kuˈɓili/ | kubili /kubili/ | kubili /kuɓili/ | kubili /kuɓiːli/ | mbirhi /mbiri/ | peli /peli/ |
| Three | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰaːtʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kutsatfu /kutsʼatfu/ | nharhu /ɳaɾu/ | talu /talu/ |
| Four | kune /kune/ | kune /kuːne/ | kune /kune/ | kune /kunɛ/ | kune /kune/ | mune /mune/ | ne /ne/ |
| Five | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | ihlanu /iɬanu/ | sihlanu /siɬaːnu/ | ntlhanu /ntɬʰanu/ | ketalizoho /ketalizoho/ |
| Hundred | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | likhulu /liˈkʰulu/ | dzana /dzana/ | mwanda /mwanda/ |
| Hello | molo /molo/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | salibonani /saliɓonani/ | lotjhani /lotʃʰani/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | avuxeni /avuʃeni/ | lumela /lumela/ |
| Thank you | enkosi /ɛnkosi/ | ngiyabonga /ŋɡijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyathokoza /ŋijatʰokoza/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | inkomu /iŋkomu/ | nitumezi /nitumezi/ |
| Good | lungile /luŋɡilɛ/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kahle /kaɬe/ | nde /nde/ |
| New | tsha /tʃʰa/ | sha /ʃa/ | tsha /tʃʰa/ | tjha /tʃʰa/ | sha /ʃa/ | ntshwa /ntsʰwa/ | nca /ntʃa/ |
| Red | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bovu /ɓoːvu/ | tshwuka /tsʰwuka/ | fubelu /fubelu/ |
| White | mhlophe /mɬɔːpʰe/ | mhlophe /ˈmɬɔːpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | basa /ˈbasa/ | sweu /sweu/ |
| Black | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | mnyama /ˈmɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | nzima /nzima/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | ntima /ntima/ | nsu /nsu/ |
| Green | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ |
| Blue | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ |
| Cuckoo | uphezukomkhono /upʰɛzukomˈkʰono/ | uphezukomkhono /upʰɛzukomˈkʰono/ | inkanku /iⁿˈkaŋku/ | — | phezukwemkhono /pʰɛzukwɛmˈkʰono/ | ngwafalantala /ŋʷafalanˈtala/ | — |
| Computer | ikhompyutha /ikʰompjutʰa/ | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | ikhomphyutha /ikʰompʰjutʰa/ | — | khompyuta /kʰompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Sushi | sushi /suʃi/ | sushi /suʃi/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | iti /iˈti/ | itiye /iˈtijɛ/ | itiye /itije/ | itiye /iˈtije/ | litiya /litija/ | tiya /tija/ | tii /tiː/ |
| Coffee | ikofu /iˈkoːfu/ | ikhofi /iˈkʰofi/ | ikhofi /ikʰofi/ | ikofi /ikofi/ | likhofi /likʰofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | iswekile /isweˈkiːle/ | ushukela /uʃuˈkɛːla/ | itshukela /itʃukela/ | itjhukela /itʃʰukela/ | shukela /ʃukela/ | chukela /tʃukela/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Orange | iorenji /iorendʒi/ | iwolintshi /iwolintʃi/ | — | orentji /orentʃi/ | — | lamula /lamula/ | olenji /olendʒi/ |
| Ninety-nine | amashumi asithoba anesithoba /amaʃumi asitʰɔɓa anesitʰɔɓa/ | amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye /amaʃumi ajisiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe nesiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe/ | amatshumi aficamunwemunye lesificamunwemunye /amatʃumi afiǀamunwemunje lesifiǀamunwemunje/ | amatjhumi alithoba nethoba /amatʃʰumi alitʰoɓa netʰoɓa/ | emashumi layimfica nemfica /emaʃumi lajimfiǀa nemfiǀa/ | makume nkaye nkaye /makume ŋkaje ŋkaje/ | — |
| Internet laughter | kkkk | kkkk | — | — | — | — | — |
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