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Common Bemba to Xhosa phrases

100 practical Bemba to Xhosa phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Bemba to Xhosa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Xhosa translation (Xhosa) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.

The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Xhosa.

Tip: pick five Xhosa phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba to Xhosa translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.

Greetings and pleasantries

Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.

  1. Shani

    Molo

  2. Natotela

    Enkosi

  3. Muli shani

    Ubusuku obuhle

  4. Muli shani

    Ubusuku obuhle

  5. Muli shani

    Ubusuku obuhle

  6. Shalenipo bwino

    Lala ngoxolo

  7. Tukakutana

    Ndiza kubonana kamva

  8. Twalumba

    Hamba kakuhle

  9. Iwe ulishani?

    Ngubani igama lakho?

  10. Ndefwaya John

    Igama lam nguJohn

  11. Uli bwanji?

    Unjani?

  12. Nashitasha kukumona

    Kuhle ukukwazi

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?

    Uthetha isiNgesi?

  2. Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino

    Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle

  3. Ndefwaya kumfwa

    Andiqondi

  4. Nimwandi ulukanda buteko

    Nceda thethe kancinci

  5. Ningaloleleko?

    Ungakuphinda lokho?

  6. Ili kuti ikalamba?

    Iphi ibhafu?

  7. Ningalileka shani ku city center?

    Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?

  8. Fumya kumwendo

    Jolisa kwesokunxele

  9. Fumya kumwendo

    Jolisa kwesokudla

  10. Enda pamo

    Hamba ngqo

  11. Kuli shani ifyabukata?

    Iholo ingakanani?

  12. Ticket imwe, nomba

    Ithikithi elinye, nceda

  13. Kuli lishilu ukulya?

    Ingakanani ukusuka apha?

  14. Ndi lost

    Ndilahlekile

  15. Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?

    Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Eya

    Ewe

  2. Awe

    Hayi

  3. Panga

    Mhlawumbi

  4. Ndi bwino

    Ndiyavuma

  5. Ndi bwino na

    Andivumi

  6. Ilyo lishibukile

    Okuhle

  7. Uchite shani?

    Ucinga ntoni?

  8. Ushakufwa?

    Ungandinceda?

  9. Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

    Ndidinga uncedo

  10. Leka ifi

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Nshakufwa

    Ndicela uxolo

  12. Takwaba shani

    Akukho ngxaki

  13. Nshakufwa bwino

    Wamkelekile

  14. Nashala bwino mu mwaka

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Ube na mulimo wabwino

    Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?

    Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?

    Uphi umphakathi weebhasi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Ninshi ni platform iyi?

    Yeyiphi iphondo? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Ninshi ikalamba?

    Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?

    Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. Ili pamo na pano.

    Ikho kufutshane apha

  7. Ili lishilu na pano.

    Ikude apha

  8. Ushibukishe pa mape?

    Ungandibonisa kwiimeko? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Leka pano, chonde.

    Misa apha, nceda

  10. Kuli shani?

    Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Ili shani?

    Ithini le mali? (Ili shani?)

  2. Ili lya kuli

    Le mali ibiza kakhulu. (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Muli na chimo chibulu?

    Unayo into engabizi? (Muli na chimo chibulu?)

  4. Ningakupanga na kadi?

    Ndingakhokha ngekhadi? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili

    Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini. (Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)

  6. Icilanga, tapali

    Ibhili, nceda. (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Ubufyashi bwakupanga?

    Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Ndi mvegetarian

    Ndiyavegetarian. (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali

    Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda. (Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)

  10. Ili lya bwino

    Oku kumnandi. (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Ningakonda ifyalo?

    Ndingafumana imenyu? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Icupa ca mvula, tapali

    Ingxube ye water, nceda. (Icupa ca mvula, tapali)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Tuma abashitisha

    Biza uphondo

  2. Tuma ambulance

    Biza i-ambulensi

  3. Nshikala na doctor

    Ndifuna ugqirha

  4. Nshikala bwino

    Ndiziva ndingalunganga

  5. Ndi na allergy ku nsalu

    Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

  6. Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?

    Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

  7. Kuli ububi pano

    Kubuhlungu apha

  8. Nashitile passport yangu

    Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

  9. Nawe tuma hotel yangu?

    Ungabiza ihotele yam?

  10. Chikondi!

    Uncedo!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Nashamukeni

    Kuhle ukukwazi (na-sha-mu-ke-ni)

  2. Tulefwaya ukusanga

    Masihlele umhlangano (tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)

  3. Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?

    Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo? (nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)

  4. Nizakutuma ifishina lelo

    Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje (ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)

  5. Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?

    Singathetha ngomso? (twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)

  6. Nomba fwebo file iliko

    Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo (nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)

  7. Natotela pa nshita

    Enkosi ngexesha lakho (na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)

  8. Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe

    Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe (ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)

  9. Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?

    Ungacacisa le ndawo? (wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)

  10. Nizakukumbusha

    Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe (ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)

  11. Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula

    Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu (i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ninshi ilya shani?

    Yintoni ixesha? (Yin-toh-nee ikh-leh-zah?)

  2. Kuli nomba itatu.

    Iiyure ezintathu (Ee-yoo-reh e-zin-tah-thu)

  3. Lelo.

    Namhlanje (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Mwaume.

    Manga (Man-gah)

  5. Kale.

    Izolo (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Lwandi.

    Mvulo (M-vu-lo)

  7. Lwakabamba.

    Lwesibini (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Lwapili.

    Lwesithathu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Imwe.

    Ene (Eh-neh)

  10. Ibili.

    Mbini (M-bee-nee)

  11. Itatu.

    Thathu (Thah-thu)

  12. Icumi.

    Ishumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Cikumi.

    Ishumi elinye (Ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-yeh)

  14. Pafya.

    Umgama (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Ilyo.

    Ngaphezulu (Ngah-peh-zulu)

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