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Common Yoruba to Xhosa phrases

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

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Looking for practical Yoruba to Xhosa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba 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: read the Xhosa line out loud three times, then cover the Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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. Bawo

    Molo (bawoh)

  2. O seun

    Enkosi (oh shayoon)

  3. E kaaro

    Ubusuku obuhle (eh kah-roh)

  4. E kaasan

    Ubusuku obuhle (eh kah-sahn)

  5. E kuurole

    Ubusuku obuhle (eh koo-roh-leh)

  6. O daaro

    Lala ngoxolo (oh dah-roh)

  7. A ri e laipe

    Ndiza kubonana kamva (ah ree eh lie-peh)

  8. O dabọ

    Hamba kakuhle (oh dah-boh)

  9. Kí ni orukọ rẹ?

    Ngubani igama lakho? (kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)

  10. Orukọ mi ni John

    Igama lam nguJohn (oh-roo-koh mee nee John)

  11. Bawo ni?

    Unjani? (bawoh nee)

  12. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Kuhle ukukwazi (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.

  1. Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?

    Uthetha isiNgesi? (Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)

  2. Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa

    Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle (Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)

  3. Mi ò ye mi

    Andiqondi (Mee oh yeh mee)

  4. Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan

    Nceda thethe kancinci (Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)

  5. Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?

    Ungakuphinda lokho? (Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)

  6. Nibo ni baluwe wa?

    Iphi ibhafu? (Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)

  7. Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?

    Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu? (Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)

  8. Yí si apa osi

    Jolisa kwesokunxele (Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)

  9. Yí si apa otun

    Jolisa kwesokudla (Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)

  10. Lọ taara

    Hamba ngqo (Law tah-rah)

  11. Elo ni owo ọkọ?

    Iholo ingakanani? (Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)

  12. Ticket kan, jọwọ

    Ithikithi elinye, nceda (Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)

  13. Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?

    Ingakanani ukusuka apha? (Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)

  14. Mo ti sọnù

    Ndilahlekile (Moh tee sohn-oo)

  15. Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?

    Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card? (Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Bẹẹni

    Ewe

  2. Rara

    Hayi

  3. Bóyá

    Mhlawumbi

  4. Mo gba

    Ndiyavuma

  5. Mo kọ

    Andivumi

  6. Iyẹn dára

    Okuhle

  7. Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?

    Ucinga ntoni?

  8. Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?

    Ungandinceda?

  9. Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́

    Ndidinga uncedo

  10. Dákẹ́ díẹ̀

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Mo bínú

    Ndicela uxolo

  12. Kò sí ìṣòro

    Akukho ngxaki

  13. Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí

    Wamkelekile

  14. Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò

    Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?

    Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?

    Uphi umphakathi weebhasi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?

    Yeyiphi iphondo? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?

    Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?

    Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. O sunmọ ibi yi

    Ikho kufutshane apha

  7. O jinna si ibi yi

    Ikude apha

  8. Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?

    Ungandibonisa kwiimeko? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Duro nibi, jọwọ

    Misa apha, nceda

  10. Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?

    Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Elo ni eyi?

    Ithini le mali? (elo ni eyi)

  2. Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀

    Le mali ibiza kakhulu. (eyi je gbowo pupo)

  3. Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?

    Unayo into engabizi? (se o ni nkan to rorun)

  4. Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?

    Ndingakhokha ngekhadi? (se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)

  5. Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì

    Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini. (mo fe tabili fun meji)

  6. Iwe isanwo, jọwọ

    Ibhili, nceda. (iwe isanwo jowo)

  7. Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?

    Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile? (se ise wa ninu)

  8. Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ

    Ndiyavegetarian. (mo je onje efo)

  9. Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ

    Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda. (ko si onje to ni ika jowo)

  10. Eyi dára

    Oku kumnandi. (eyi dara)

  11. Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?

    Ndingafumana imenyu? (se mo le ni atojo onje)

  12. Gilaasi omi, jọwọ

    Ingxube ye water, nceda. (gilaasi omi jowo)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Pe iroyin ọlọpa

    Biza uphondo (pe iroyin olopa)

  2. Pe ambulance

    Biza i-ambulensi (pe ambulance)

  3. Mo nilo dokita

    Ndifuna ugqirha (mo nilo dokita)

  4. Mo n ni irora

    Ndiziva ndingalunganga (mo n ni irora)

  5. Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́

    Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts (mo ni akunya si efo)

  6. Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?

    Uphi umphakathi oseduze? (nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)

  7. O n dun nibi

    Kubuhlungu apha (o n dun nibi)

  8. Mo padanu iwe irinna mi

    Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam (mo padanu iwe irinna mi)

  9. Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?

    Ungabiza ihotele yam? (se o le pe hoteeli mi)

  10. I ranlọwọ!

    Uncedo! (i ranlọwọ)

Work and business

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

  1. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Kuhle ukukwazi (Inu mi dun lati pade e)

  2. Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade

    Masihlele umhlangano

  3. Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?

    Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?

  4. Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni

    Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje

  5. Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?

    Singathetha ngomso?

  6. Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́

    Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo

  7. O seun fun akoko rẹ

    Enkosi ngexesha lakho

  8. Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ

    Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe

  9. Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?

    Ungacacisa le ndawo?

  10. Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ

    Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe

  11. Akoko ipari ni Friday

    Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Kini akoko to wa?

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

  2. O ti di mẹta

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

  3. Loni

    Namhlanje (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Ọla

    Manga (Man-gah)

  5. Ana

    Izolo (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Ọjọ́ Ajé

    Mvulo (M-vu-lo)

  7. Ọjọ́ Iṣẹ́gun

    Lwesibini (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Ọjọ́ Rú

    Lwesithathu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Ọkan

    Ene (Eh-neh)

  10. Meji

    Mbini (M-bee-nee)

  11. Mẹta

    Thathu (Thah-thu)

  12. Mẹwa

    Ishumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Ọgọ́rùn-ún

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

  14. Idaji

    Umgama (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Diẹ sii

    Ngaphezulu (Ngah-peh-zulu)

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