Looking for practical Xhosa to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: when a Yoruba phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Xhosa wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa to Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Enkosi
O seun(oh shayoon)
Ubusuku obuhle
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Ubusuku obuhle
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Ubusuku obuhle
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Lala ngoxolo
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Ndiza kubonana kamva
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Hamba kakuhle
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Ngubani igama lakho?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Igama lam nguJohn
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Unjani?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Kuhle ukukwazi
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Andiqondi
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Nceda thethe kancinci
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Iphi ibhafu?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Jolisa kwesokudla
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Hamba ngqo
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Iholo ingakanani?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Ndilahlekile
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Bẹẹni
Hayi
Rara
Mhlawumbi
Bóyá
Ndiyavuma
Mo gba
Andivumi
Mo kọ
Okuhle
Iyẹn dára
Ucinga ntoni?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Ungandinceda?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Ndidinga uncedo
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Linda umzuzu
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Ndicela uxolo
Mo bínú
Akukho ngxaki
Kò sí ìṣòro
Wamkelekile
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Ikho kufutshane apha
O sunmọ ibi yi
Ikude apha
O jinna si ibi yi
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Misa apha, nceda
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Unayo into engabizi?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Ibhili, nceda.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Ndiyavegetarian.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Oku kumnandi.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Biza i-ambulensi
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Ndifuna ugqirha
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Kubuhlungu apha
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Uncedo!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Masihlele umhlangano
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
Singathetha ngomso?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.