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Common Kikongo to Xhosa phrases

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

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Looking for practical Kikongo to Xhosa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Xhosa-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kikongo 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. Mbote

    Molo

  2. Mele

    Enkosi

  3. Mokolo mayele

    Ubusuku obuhle

  4. Mokolo ya ntango

    Ubusuku obuhle

  5. Mokolo ya mambu

    Ubusuku obuhle

  6. Mokolo ya mpembe

    Lala ngoxolo

  7. Tala mosi

    Ndiza kubonana kamva

  8. Tata

    Hamba kakuhle

  9. Nki yina nzo?

    Ngubani igama lakho?

  10. Nzo yami ke John

    Igama lam nguJohn

  11. Oko wanga?

    Unjani?

  12. Nki ya mosi na yo

    Kuhle ukukwazi

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Oyo o zola kutu English?

    Uthetha isiNgesi?

  2. Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.

    Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle

  3. Nkeni kanga.

    Andiqondi

  4. Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.

    Nceda thethe kancinci

  5. Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?

    Ungakuphinda lokho?

  6. Kutu wapi banzela?

    Iphi ibhafu?

  7. Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?

    Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?

  8. Tanda na luma.

    Jolisa kwesokunxele

  9. Tanda na mambu.

    Jolisa kwesokudla

  10. Enda na mosi.

    Hamba ngqo

  11. Nki mbongo ya ndako?

    Iholo ingakanani?

  12. Ticket mosi, mokolo.

    Ithikithi elinye, nceda

  13. Nki feti na wapi?

    Ingakanani ukusuka apha?

  14. Nkeni zola.

    Ndilahlekile

  15. Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?

    Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ewe

    Ewe

  2. Te

    Hayi

  3. Kasi

    Mhlawumbi

  4. Nkiadi

    Ndiyavuma

  5. Nkiadi te

    Andivumi

  6. Oyo ke nkiadi malamu

    Okuhle

  7. Nkiadi nini?

    Ucinga ntoni?

  8. Okanza kudi nki?

    Ungandinceda?

  9. Nkiadi kudi nki

    Ndidinga uncedo

  10. Lela na nki

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Nkiadi na nki

    Ndicela uxolo

  12. Te na nki

    Akukho ngxaki

  13. Tata na nki

    Wamkelekile

  14. Mokolo ya mbote

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Tala na nzala ya malamu

    Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?

    Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Wana wanga na bus?

    Uphi umphakathi weebhasi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Nki platform yai?

    Yeyiphi iphondo? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?

    Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Yai ke nzila ya nki?

    Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. Eza na nsi ya nzo

    Ikho kufutshane apha (Eza na nsi ya nzo)

  7. Eza na mosi ya nzo

    Ikude apha (Eza na mosi ya nzo)

  8. Okanisa ngai na mape?

    Ungandibonisa kwiimeko? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît

    Misa apha, nceda (Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)

  10. Nki ntangu yina yenda?

    Ithatha ixesha elingakanani? (Nki ntangu yina yenda?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Nki yina kudi?

    Ithini le mali? (nki yina kudi)

  2. Yina kele na nsi

    Le mali ibiza kakhulu. (yina kele na nsi)

  3. Ona kima ki nsi?

    Unayo into engabizi? (ona kima ki nsi)

  4. Ncanza kudi na kadi?

    Ndingakhokha ngekhadi? (ncanza kudi na kadi)

  5. Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi

    Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini. (nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)

  6. Kadi, ndakisa

    Ibhili, nceda. (kadi, ndakisa)

  7. Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na?

    Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile? (kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)

  8. Ndi muvegetari

    Ndiyavegetarian. (ndi muvegetari)

  9. Kaka mfu, ndakisa

    Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda. (kaka mfu, ndakisa)

  10. Yina kele na nsi

    Oku kumnandi. (yina kele na nsi)

  11. Ncanza na menu?

    Ndingafumana imenyu? (ncanza na menu)

  12. Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa

    Ingxube ye water, nceda. (ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Landa boma

    Biza uphondo

  2. Landa ambulance

    Biza i-ambulensi

  3. Nkeni mosi

    Ndifuna ugqirha

  4. Nkeni na mbisi

    Ndiziva ndingalunganga

  5. Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu

    Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

  6. Wana hospital ya mbote?

    Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

  7. Eka na nki

    Kubuhlungu apha

  8. Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai

    Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

  9. Olanda hotel na ngai?

    Ungabiza ihotele yam?

  10. Tala!

    Uncedo!

Work and business

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

  1. Nzo ya kima

    Kuhle ukukwazi (Nzò ya kima)

  2. Tukala na mbandu

    Masihlele umhlangano (Tukàla na mbàndu)

  3. Nki nsi ya ntangu?

    Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo? (Nki nsi ya ntángu?)

  4. Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu

    Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje (Ndi zòla ku sendèla nsi ya lufùlu)

  5. Tukala na kanda se

    Singathetha ngomso? (Tukàla na kànda sè?)

  6. Tula nsi ya file ya kima

    Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo (Tùla nsi ya file ya kima)

  7. Mosi na nsi ya ntangu

    Enkosi ngexesha lakho (Mòsi na nsi ya ntángu)

  8. Ndi zola ku zola na yo

    Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe (Ndi zòla ku zòla na yò)

  9. Nki o zola ku zola nki?

    Ungacacisa le ndawo? (Nki o zòla ku zòla nki?)

  10. Ndi zola ku yindula na yo

    Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe (Ndi zòla ku yìndula na yò)

  11. Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo

    Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu (Nsi ya kima yìna nsi ya mposò)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nkiadi ki zole?

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

  2. Kikuma kinsatu

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

  3. Lelo

    Namhlanje (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Kuna

    Manga (Man-gah)

  5. Kima

    Izolo (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Mokolo wa mbandu

    Mvulo (M-vu-lo)

  7. Mokolo wa mosi

    Lwesibini (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Mokolo wa ntete

    Lwesithathu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Mosi

    Ene (Eh-neh)

  10. Mbale

    Mbini (M-bee-nee)

  11. Mitatu

    Thathu (Thah-thu)

  12. Kumi

    Ishumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Kimo na nkama

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

  14. Nseke

    Umgama (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Nzo

    Ngaphezulu (Ngah-peh-zulu)

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