The UBuntu Bridge Xhosa Blog

Makhos  //  This blog is designed specifically for a new online learning initiative by UBuntu Bridge. Subscribe here for emails to your inbox.

UBuntu Bridge is a company whose mission since 2005 has been to bridge culture, language and class gaps in South Africa through inspirational, humorous, well-designed and convenient language lessons and language tools as well as cultural immersion experiences.

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Dec 28 / 11:09am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Happy New Year

by Makhos
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Note:  Make use of the pause button!

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First Phrase:

English: 
 Safe travels
Xhosa:  Indlela'nhle

Phrase Breakdown:
Indlela - road, path, way
enhle - that is beautiful

Second Phrase:

English:  Happy New Year
Xhosa:  Nyaka Omtsha!

Phrase Breakdown:
uNyaka - a year
omtsha - that is new
Its a more conversational way of saying what is a much longer sentence in proper Xhosa.
This will have the desired effect!

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Jul 8 / 5:19am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Your baboon is galloping (You have impeccable timing)

by Makhos
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English:  Your baboon is galloping
Xhosa:  Imfene yakho iyaphala
English Metaphorical:  You have impeccable timing!

Phrase Breakdown:

imfene - baboon
yakho - your
i - subject prexi for it for noun group 9
ya - present tense 
phala - gallop

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Jun 9 / 7:39am

Xhosa Audio Proverb-A-Day: Your baboon is old (You are late!)

by Makhos
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Literal English:  Your baboon is old
Proverbial English:  You are late
Xhosa:  Imfene yakho indala

Phrase Breakdown:

Imfene - baboon
yakho - your (for most nouns starting with i-)
indala - is old (with prefix for group 9 nouns)
dala - old
mfondini - chap/fellow/brother

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
May 12 / 3:53am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Confusion and No problems

by Makhos
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Two phrases Today!!

(download)



English:  There is confusion
Xhosa:  Ngumdudo wamasele

Phrase Breakdown:

Ngu - it is
umdudo - a dance
wa - possessive for nouns starting with um
amasele - frogs

English:  It is not a problem
Xhosa:  Ayinamsebenzi

Phrase Breakdown:

ayi - neg prefix for a thing
na- with
msebenzi - work

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
May 4 / 7:20am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Oh, I am sorry (Sympathy)

by Makhos
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English:  Oh, I am sorry
Xhosa:  Owu, Ndilusizi 

Phrase Breakdown:

Owu - interjection expressing sympathy.
I prefix - ndi
Lusizi - sympathy
mother - mama, or whoever else you are talking to)

These are taken from our Daily phrases Xhosa CD - To order this or our other fantastic learner Xhosa CDs - click here:  http://www.learnxhosa.co.za/products.html

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Apr 21 / 5:28am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Have a Nice Easter!

by Makhos
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English:  Have a nice Easter!

Xhosa:  Ube nePasika emnandi

Phrase Breakdown:

You must be - Ube
You (pl) must be - Nibe
With an Easter - nePasika
that is nice - emnandi

These are taken from our Daily phrases Xhosa CD - To order this or our other fantastic learner Xhosa CDs - click here:  http://www.learnxhosa.co.za/products.html

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Apr 20 / 1:31pm

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Weather Phrases

by Makhos
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 English:  An assortment of weather phrases

Phrase Breakdown:

Its - ku
hot - shushu
the sun - ilanga
it is scorching - liyatshisa
Its cold - kuyabanda
today - namhlanje
I am cold - ndiyagodola
The wind - umoya
Is blowing - uyavuthuza
Too much - gqitha
It is raining - kuyanetha
Cats and dogs - iikati nezinja
Outside - ngaphandle
Inside - ngaphakathi

These are taken from our Daily Phrases Xhosa CD - To order this or our other fantastic learner CDs, click here:  http://www.learnxhosa.co.za/products.html

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Mar 2 / 6:28am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: What is the time?

by Makhos
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English:  What is the time?  It is.....  At what time?  At ......

Xhosa:  Ngubani ixesha?   Ngu ..... Ngabani ixesha?  Ngo.....

Phrase Breakdown:

ngu - it is 
bani? - who (meaning what here)
ixesha - time

nga - by means of
nga + u... = ngo.....

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

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Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Jan 20 / 11:35am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Having and Wanting

by Makhos
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(download)



English:  I want it.  I don't want it.  I have it.  I don't have it.

Xhosa:  Ndiyafuna.  Andifuni.  Ndinayo.  Andinayo

Phrase Breakdown:

Ndi - I
ya - lengthener
funa - want
andi - I don't
nayo - with/have it

Xhosa CDs  - click here:  http://www.learnxhosa.co.za/products.html

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.
 
Jan 12 / 7:03am

Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Where were you on holiday? I was ....

by Makhos
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English:  Where were you?  I was .....

Xhosa:  Ubuphi?  bendise ......

Phrase Breakdown:

ubu - you were ....
phi? - where?
bendi - I was
s - locative buffer
e - starts most destinations
Kapa - Cape town
khaya - home
lwandle - the sea/the beach

previous line:  
how was you holiday?  It was great.
Ibinjani iholide yakho? Ibimnandi.

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Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.