Contacts & SNS

1. Inombolo yakho yefowuni yintoni?

   ee-NOHM-boh-loh YAH-khoh yeh-foh-WOO-nee YIN-toh-nee

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   Asking for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   "Inombolo" = English "number" with "i-" noun class prefix. "Yefowuni" = "ye- (possessive) + fowuni (phone, English loanword)" = of the phone. A mix of Xhosa grammar and English vocabulary.

2. Inombolo yam yefowuni ngu...

   ee-NOHM-boh-loh yahm yeh-foh-WOO-nee ngoo

   My phone number is...

   Usage

   Giving your phone number

   Grammar Note

   "Ngu" is the Xhosa copula used before numbers and names. When giving a phone number, the structure is "ngu + digits." A simple and direct way to share contact information.

3. Ingaba unayo i-WhatsApp?

   een-GAH-bah oo-NAH-yoh ee-WhatsApp

   Do you have WhatsApp?

   Usage

   Asking about WhatsApp — widely used across South Africa

   Grammar Note

   "Unayo" = "u- (you) + na- (have) + yo (it)" — a contracted possessive. "Ingaba" introduces a yes/no question, similar to "whether" or "do (you)..." in English.

4. Ndithumele umyalezo

   ndee-THOO-meh-leh oom-yah-LEH-zoh

   Send me a message

   Usage

   Asking someone to send you a message

   Grammar Note

   "Ndithumele" = "ndi- (to me) + thumela (send)" — imperative "send to me." "Umyalezo" = "um- (class 3) + yalezo (message/information)" — the Xhosa word for message.

5. Idilesi yakho ye-imeyile yintoni?

   ee-dee-LEH-see YAH-khoh yeh-ee-MEH-ee-leh YIN-toh-nee

   What is your email address?

   Usage

   Asking for someone's email address

   Grammar Note

   "Idilesi" = English "address" with "i-" class prefix. "Ye-imeyile" = "ye- (possessive) + imeyile (email, English loanword)" = of the email. Technology vocabulary is extensively borrowed from English.

6. Ndifuna ukuqhagamshelana nawe kwi-Facebook

   ndee-FOO-nah oo-koo-KHAH-gahm-sheh-lah-nah NAH-weh kwee-Facebook

   I want to connect with you on Facebook

   Usage

   Requesting to connect on social media

   Grammar Note

   "Ukuqhagamshelana" = "qhagamshela (connect) + ana (each other)" — a reciprocal verb infinitive. The "-ana" suffix marks reciprocal action in Xhosa (doing something to each other).

7. Ndivuyile ukukwazi

   ndee-VOO-yee-leh oo-koo-KWAH-zee

   I am glad to have met/known you

   Usage

   Expressing gratitude for meeting someone

   Grammar Note

   "Ndivuyile" = "ndi- (I) + vuyile (was glad, perfect)" = I am glad. "Ukukwazi" = "uku- (infinitive) + ku- (you) + azi (know)" = to have known you.

8. Ndiza kukubizela

   ndee-ZAH koo-koo-bee-ZEH-lah

   I will call you

   Usage

   Promising to call someone

   Grammar Note

   "Ndiza" = "ndi- (I) + za (come/go)" = "I am going to" — expressing immediate future intention. "Kukubizela" = "ku- (infinitive) + ku- (you) + bizela (call for)" = to call for you.

9. Wufa amahashe ukufikelana

   WOO-fah ah-mah-HAH-sheh oo-koo-fee-KEH-lah-nah

   Distance doesn't break friendship (lit. run like horses to reach each other)

   Usage

   A Xhosa saying about lasting friendship across distance

   Grammar Note

   "Wufa amahashe" = "run like horses" — a metaphor for effort. "Ukufikelana" = "reach each other" with "-ana" reciprocal suffix. A proverbial expression about maintaining contact across distances.

10. Sala kakuhle, sizobuya

    SAH-lah kah-KOO-hleh see-ZOH-boo-yah

    Stay well, we will return

    Usage

    Farewell with a promise to return

    Grammar Note

    "Sizobuya" = "si- (we) + zo- (future tense marker) + buya (return)" = we will return. The "-zo-" infix marks future tense in Xhosa — a clean and regular feature of the language.

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