English→Xhosa

Translate English to Xhosa like a local.

IsiXhosa in South Africa sounds like itself through molo/molweni greetings, bhuti and sisi forms of address, and hlonipha-sensitive choices of wording.

Going the other way? Xhosa to English

474 local dialects

AIRTranslate on iPhone choosing between Xhosa varieties

What locals actually say

Hello, sir, how are you?

Molweni, tata, ninjani?

“Molweni” and the plural-style “ninjani” show respect when addressing an older person; “tata” is the familiar South African respectful address for a man or elder.

Please wait for me outside.

Khawundilinde phandle.

The “khawu-” form softens the imperative into the everyday spoken request “please wait for me,” rather than using a bare command.

I’m starving.

Eish, ndilambile kakhulu!

“Eish” is a recognisably South African exclamation in casual speech, while “kakhulu” adds the intensity intended by “starving.”

How much does this cost?

Le nto ixabisa malini?

Malini asks for the amount or price, while le nto means this thing in everyday Xhosa.

Turn left at the next street.

Jikela ngasekhohlo kwisitalato esilandelayo.

Jikela uses the applicative ending -ela to direct the turning toward a place, and ngasekhohlo signals the left-hand side.

I’ll have the chicken and rice.

Ndicela inkukhu nerayisi.

Ndicela literally means I ask for and is the natural polite ordering construction; ne- joins the two foods as and.

My older sister is coming tomorrow.

Udadewethu omdala uza ngomso.

Udadewethu means my sister, with the possessive -wethu, while omdala specifically identifies her as the older sister.

I’m running late for work.

Ndiza kufika emva kwexesha emsebenzini.

Ndiza kufika means I will arrive, and emva kwexesha is the everyday construction for late, literally after the time.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

How Xhosa differs

IsiXhosa (Eastern Cape standard); molo/molweni greetings; hlonipha respect conventions.

Sound like a local everywhere, not just here.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.

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Localization Notes explaining why locals say it that way