About Xhosa
isiXhosa, known as Xhosa, is one of South Africa's eleven official languages and the second most widely spoken home language after Zulu. It is a member of the Nguni branch of the Bantu family and is dominant in the Eastern Cape, with large communities in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Xhosa is famous above all for its clicks, which are more numerous and prominent than in any other South African language. These sounds give spoken Xhosa its unmistakable character and are one of the first things newcomers notice.
The language carries enormous cultural and historical weight, having been the home language of many of South Africa's most influential leaders, writers, and thinkers. It is central to a rich tradition of oral literature, praise poetry, and song.
History and Background
Xhosa-speaking communities have lived in the eastern regions of South Africa for many centuries. The language absorbed its distinctive click consonants through long contact with Khoisan-speaking peoples, adopting sounds that are relatively rare among the world's languages.
Written Xhosa developed in the nineteenth century through the work of missionaries and early Xhosa intellectuals, and the language soon produced a substantial body of literature and journalism. Today isiXhosa is taught in schools, used in national media, and enjoys full official status.
Key Features of Xhosa
- Contains fifteen click consonants across three groups, written with c, x, and q.
- Organised around noun classes with distinctive singular and plural prefixes.
- Uses tone to distinguish meaning between otherwise similar words.
- Verbs are richly inflected, carrying subject, object, and tense.
- Closely related to Zulu, with significant mutual intelligibility.
Common Xhosa Phrases
Here are useful everyday expressions to help you get started. You can translate any of these and thousands more with the free Quick Reads translator.
| English | Xhosa |
|---|---|
| Hello (to one person) | Molo |
| Hello (to many) | Molweni |
| How are you? | Unjani? |
| I am well | Ndiphilile |
| Thank you | Enkosi |
| Please | Nceda |
| Yes | Ewe |
| No | Hayi |
| Goodbye (to one leaving) | Hamba kakuhle |
| What is your name? | Ngubani igama lakho? |
Interesting Facts About Xhosa
- The name 'Xhosa' itself begins with a click sound.
- Xhosa has fifteen distinct click consonants, the most of any official SA language.
- It is closely related to Zulu, and speakers of one can often understand the other.
- Xhosa featured prominently in the film industry, including in the anthem 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Xhosa have so many clicks?
Xhosa adopted its click consonants through centuries of contact with Khoisan-speaking peoples. It has fifteen click sounds, making it the most click-rich of South Africa's official languages.
Is Xhosa similar to Zulu?
Yes. Xhosa and Zulu are both Nguni languages and share much vocabulary and grammar. Speakers of one can often understand a good deal of the other with some effort.
How do I translate English to Xhosa?
Quick Reads lets you translate English to Xhosa instantly and for free. Use short, clear sentences for the most accurate results, and consult a fluent speaker for official documents.
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