Looking for practical Mam to Xhosa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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 Mam 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.
Xo'j
Molo(sho'j)
Tz'ik
Enkosi(tz'ik)
Xo'j nax
Ubusuku obuhle(sho'j nax)
Xo'j q'ij
Ubusuku obuhle(sho'j q'ij)
Xo'j k'ux
Ubusuku obuhle(sho'j k'ux)
Xo'j k'ux nax
Lala ngoxolo(sho'j k'ux nax)
K'ux q'ij
Ndiza kubonana kamva(k'ux q'ij)
Xo'j k'ux
Hamba kakuhle(sho'j k'ux)
Ja' k'ux nax?
Ngubani igama lakho?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Ja' k'ux nax John
Igama lam nguJohn(ha' k'ux nax John)
Jach' k'ux?
Unjani?(hach' k'ux?)
Nab' k'ux
Kuhle ukukwazi(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Andiqondi
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Nceda thethe kancinci
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Ungakuphinda lokho?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Iphi ibhafu?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
K'utun k'ux.
Jolisa kwesokunxele
K'utun k'ux.
Jolisa kwesokudla
K'utun k'ux.
Hamba ngqo
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Iholo ingakanani?
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Ndilahlekile
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Juj
Ewe(hoo)
Man
Hayi(mah)
K'ux
Mhlawumbi(k'ush)
Juj k'ux
Ndiyavuma(hoo k'ush)
Man k'ux
Andivumi(mah k'ush)
K'ux juj
Okuhle(k'ush hoo)
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?
Ucinga ntoni?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?
Ungandinceda?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut
Ndidinga uncedo(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
K'ux k'ut
Linda umzuzu(k'ush k'ut)
Juj k'ux k'ut
Ndicela uxolo(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Man k'ux k'ut
Akukho ngxaki(mah k'ush k'ut)
K'ux juj k'ut
Wamkelekile(k'ush hoo k'ut)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.