Looking for practical Zapotec to Xhosa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zapotec 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 Zapotec 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.
Díí
Molo(di'i)
Güi
Enkosi(güi)
Bëëna
Ubusuku obuhle(bëëna)
Bëëna xhí
Ubusuku obuhle(bëëna xhi)
Bëëna xhí
Ubusuku obuhle(bëëna xhi)
Bëëna dzaa
Lala ngoxolo(bëëna dzaa)
Dáa xhí
Ndiza kubonana kamva(daa xhi)
Díí xhí
Hamba kakuhle(di'i xhi)
¿Náá xhí nè?
Ngubani igama lakho?(naa xhi ne)
Náá nè John
Igama lam nguJohn(naa ne John)
¿Náá xhí?
Unjani?(naa xhi)
Náá nè xhí
Kuhle ukukwazi(naa ne xhi)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿Ndi xquidxi inglés?
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Ndi xquidxi hindi nisa
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Ndi xquidxi nisa
Andiqondi
Ndi xquidxi xhíí xquidxi
Nceda thethe kancinci
¿Ndi xquidxi nisa xquidxi?
Ungakuphinda lokho?
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí?
Iphi ibhafu?
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí nisa?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Xquidxi xhíí
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Xquidxi xhíí
Jolisa kwesokudla
Xquidxi nisa
Hamba ngqo
¿Díí xquidxi nisa?
Iholo ingakanani?
Ndi xquidxi nisa, xhíí
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
¿Díí xquidxi nisa?
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Ndi xquidxi nisa
Ndilahlekile
¿Díí xquidxi nisa SIM?
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Nda
Ewe
Naa
Hayi
Nda'na
Mhlawumbi
Nda'ni
Ndiyavuma
Naa'ni
Andivumi
Nda'na xquidxi
Okuhle
¿Nda'ni xquidxi?
Ucinga ntoni?
¿Nda'ni xquidxi?
Ungandinceda?
Nda'ni xquidxi xquidxi
Ndidinga uncedo
Nda'ni xquidxi xquidxi
Linda umzuzu
Nda'ni xquidxi
Ndicela uxolo
Naa'ni xquidxi
Akukho ngxaki
Nda'ni xquidxi
Wamkelekile
Nda'ni xquidxi
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Nda'ni xquidxi
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.