Emergency

1. Nceda!

   N-tseh-dah

   Help! / Please help!

   Usage

   The key phrase for calling for help in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "Nceda" is the imperative of the verb "ceda" (to help/assist). It doubles as "please" in everyday requests and a cry for help in emergencies — context determines the urgency.

2. Biza amapolisa!

   BEE-zah ah-mah-poh-LEE-sah

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Calling for police. South Africa's police number is 10111, or 112 from a mobile

   Grammar Note

   "Amapolisa" = "ama- (class 6 plural prefix) + polisa (police, English loanword)." The police service is SAPS (South African Police Service). | South Africa emergency numbers: police 10111, ambulance and fire 10177. From a mobile you can also dial 112 (MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom) and an operator routes you to the nearest service. South Africa has no single unified emergency number, so the number depends on what you need. 10111 is free from a landline but charged at normal rates from a mobile.

3. Ndifuna ukuya esibhedlele

   ndee-FOO-nah oo-KOO-yah eh-see-BHEH-dleh-leh

   I need to go to the hospital

   Usage

   Requesting transport or help to go to the hospital

   Grammar Note

   "Esibhedlele" = "e- (locative) + sibhedlele (hospital)" = to the hospital. "Sibhedlele" is borrowed from English with the "si-" noun class prefix added.

4. Ndibuhlungu

   ndee-BOO-hloong-goo

   I am in pain

   Usage

   Expressing pain

   Grammar Note

   "Ndi- (1st person) + buhlungu (painful/hurting)" — subject + adjectival predicate. "Buhlungu" broadly means painful, hurting, and sorrowful in Xhosa.

5. Ndibe nexhoba

   ndee-BEH eh-KHOH-bah

   I had an accident / I was robbed

   Usage

   Reporting an accident or robbery

   Grammar Note

   "Nexhoba" = "ne- (have/with) + ixhoba (victim/incident/mishap)." "Ixhoba" is the Xhosa word for victim, sacrifice, or unfortunate event.

6. Ndifuna ugqirha

   ndee-FOO-nah oo-GKEE-rah

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Requesting to see a doctor

   Grammar Note

   "Ugqirha" means doctor and traditional healer in Xhosa. The "gq" is a single voiced palatal click consonant, and "rh" is a separate sound, a velar fricative.

7. Umhlobo wam uwile

   oom-HLOH-boh wahm oo-WEE-leh

   My friend has fallen / collapsed

   Usage

   Reporting that a companion has fallen or collapsed

   Grammar Note

   "Uwile" is the perfect of "wa" (to fall) = "has fallen." The "-ile" suffix marks perfect aspect in Xhosa. "Umhlobo" (friend) is a key social vocabulary word meaning companion and ally.

8. Kukho umlilo!

   KOO-khoh oom-LEE-loh

   There is a fire!

   Usage

   Reporting a fire

   Grammar Note

   "Umlilo" = "um- (class 3 noun prefix) + lilo (burning/fire)." South Africa's fire and ambulance number is 10177, or 112 from a mobile.

9. Ndithathe esibhedlele esisondeleyo

   ndee-TAH-theh eh-see-BHEH-dleh-leh eh-see-sohn-deh-LEH-yoh

   Take me to the nearest hospital

   Usage

   Requesting transport to the nearest hospital

   Grammar Note

   "Esisondeleyo" = "e- (relative prefix) + si- (class 7) + sondeleyo (nearest/approaching)" — a relative adjective "the one that is nearest." Xhosa forms relative adjectives this way.

10. Ndidinga amayeza

    ndee-DEE-ngah ah-mah-YEH-zah

    I need medicine

    Usage

    Requesting medicine

    Grammar Note

    "Amayeza" = "ama- (class 6 plural) + yeza (medicine/remedy)" = medicines (singular iyeza, class 5).

11. Yeka!

    Stop it

    Usage

    Cut off persistent touts or harassment

12. Ungandichukumisi!

    Don't touch me

    Usage

    Firmly tell someone not to touch you

13. Isela

    Thief

    Usage

    Point out the person who stole from you

14. Ukuxhwila

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Report that someone has been taken away; the wording used in South African criminal charges

15. Ukubulala

    Murder

    Usage

    Report that someone has been killed

16. Udushe

    Riot

    Usage

    Report mob violence; the word also covers violence and unrest in general

17. Ibhombu

    Bomb

    Usage

    Warn that there is an explosive device; borrowed from English "bomb"

18. Kukho umlilo! Balekani!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout this when you see a fire and need bystanders to get out

19. Isela! Libambeni!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Point at the person who stole from you and ask bystanders to hold them; "isela" is class 5, so the object concord is "li-"

20. Isikhululo samapolisa sikuphi?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask where the police station is so you can file a report

21. Ukhona na othetha isiJapanese?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Ask at a police station or hospital whether anyone speaks Japanese

22. Bandibethile.

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report to police or medical staff that you were assaulted

23. Amasela aqhekeze igumbi lam.

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Report that someone broke into your room or lodging while you were out

24. Loo mntu nguye owenzileyo.

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police; literally "that person is the one who did it". The distal "loo" is the word of another card "Loo nto"; "loo mntu" has ten occurrences in xh.wikipedia

25. Lumka!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Warn the person in front of you about an immediate danger

26. Khawuleza!

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Tell the person you called for help to hurry

27. Yiza ngoku!

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Tell someone on the phone or nearby to come immediately

28. Ndihlatyiwe.

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or the police that you were stabbed with a blade. The prefix ndi- marks the first person. The passive of hlaba (to stab) is hlatywa; the passive perfect is hlatyiwe.

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