Looking for practical Xhosa to Mam phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa phrase first, then the Mam translation (Mam) — 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 Mam.
Tip: read the Mam line out loud three times, then cover the Xhosa side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa to Mam 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.
Molo
Xo'j(sho'j)
Enkosi
Tz'ik(tz'ik)
Ubusuku obuhle
Xo'j nax(sho'j nax)
Ubusuku obuhle
Xo'j q'ij(sho'j q'ij)
Ubusuku obuhle
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Lala ngoxolo
Xo'j k'ux nax(sho'j k'ux nax)
Ndiza kubonana kamva
K'ux q'ij(k'ux q'ij)
Hamba kakuhle
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Ngubani igama lakho?
Ja' k'ux nax?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Igama lam nguJohn
Ja' k'ux nax John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Unjani?
Jach' k'ux?(hach' k'ux?)
Kuhle ukukwazi
Nab' k'ux(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Andiqondi
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Iphi ibhafu?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
K'utun k'ux.
Jolisa kwesokudla
K'utun k'ux.
Hamba ngqo
K'utun k'ux.
Iholo ingakanani?
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Ndilahlekile
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Juj(hoo)
Hayi
Man(mah)
Mhlawumbi
K'ux(k'ush)
Ndiyavuma
Juj k'ux(hoo k'ush)
Andivumi
Man k'ux(mah k'ush)
Okuhle
K'ux juj(k'ush hoo)
Ucinga ntoni?
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
Ungandinceda?
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Ndidinga uncedo
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
Linda umzuzu
K'ux k'ut(k'ush k'ut)
Ndicela uxolo
Juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Akukho ngxaki
Man k'ux k'ut(mah k'ush k'ut)
Wamkelekile
K'ux juj k'ut(k'ush hoo k'ut)
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?(uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?(uphi umphakathi weebhasi)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?(yeyiphi iphondo)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?(ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?(ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Ri k'ut pa ri.
Ikude apha
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?(ungandibonisa kwiimeko)
Misa apha, nceda
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.