Martial Arts

1. Ndingakubukela ukuqeqeshwa?

   May I watch the training?

   Usage

   Modern gyms in Cape Town and East London welcome visitors. South Africa is home to the MMA promotion EFC (Extreme Fighting Championship), and boxing, BJJ and MMA gyms are common in the cities

   Grammar Note

   Xhosa marks person and mood with prefixes: "ndi-" (I) plus "-nga-" (may/can) plus the verb stem. The prefix "uku-" turns a verb into a noun

2. Ndingeza ngosuku olunye kuphela?

   Can I come for just one day?

   Usage

   South African gyms usually work on monthly contracts, but many keep a single-session rate for visitors. In tourist-facing gyms in Johannesburg and Cape Town the English word "drop-in" is understood

   Grammar Note

   "Usuku" (day) belongs to noun class 11 with the prefix u(lu)-, so modifiers agree: "olunye" (one/another). "Kuphela" (only) goes at the end of the clause

3. Yimalini iklasi enye?

   How much is one class?

   Usage

   The currency is the South African rand. A drop-in typically costs 100-200 rand and monthly membership 500-1,200. Card payment is widespread and some gyms accept local instant-payment apps

   Grammar Note

   "Yimalini" fuses "yi-" (it is), "imali" (money) and "-ni" (what) into a set question — the everyday way of asking a price

4. Ndisaqala, andizange ndilwe ngaphambili.

   I am just starting, I have never fought before

   Usage

   Tell the desk or the coach up front and they will steer you to pad work or breakfall drills. South African gyms rarely post skill levels and rely on you saying where you are

   Grammar Note

   The infix "-sa-" means "still". Negation prefixes "a-", and "andizange" expresses "I have never". The verb stem here is "-lwa" (to fight)

5. Ndingaziboleka iiglavu?

   Can I borrow gloves?

   Usage

   Most gyms keep loaner gloves, but hand wraps are usually your own for hygiene reasons and are often sold at the desk. A mouthguard is always down to you

   Grammar Note

   The infix "-zi-" is reflexive, "for oneself". English loan nouns enter classes 9/10, and the plural takes "ii-": iglavu becomes iiglavu

6. Nceda ungabethi ngamandla amaninzi.

   Please do not hit too hard

   Usage

   Say this before sparring. The English phrase "light sparring" is widely understood in South African gyms, but saying it in Xhosa breaks the ice at once. To ask for the opposite, just say "ngamandla" (hard)

   Grammar Note

   Negative commands take "u-" (you) plus "-nga-" (prohibitive) plus the stem with the final vowel "-i". "Amandla" is also famous as the rallying cry of the anti-apartheid movement

7. Idolo lam libuhlungu, andinako ukukhaba.

   My knee hurts, I cannot kick

   Usage

   Always say this before training. Replace "idolo" (knee) with "igxalaba" (shoulder), "umqolo" (spine/lower back) or "iqatha" (calf). Most South African gyms take no intake form, so speaking up is the only way

   Grammar Note

   Possessives agree with noun class: "idolo" is class 5 so it takes "lam" (my), while a class 9 noun would take "yam". "Andinako uku-" expresses inability

8. Ijim ivula ngaliphi ixesha?

   What time does the gym open?

   Usage

   South African gyms cluster their classes before six in the morning and after five in the evening, often opening in between only for individual training. Winter darkness comes early, and for safety it is worth avoiding late evening travel

   Grammar Note

   The question word "-phi" (which) agrees with the noun class; "ixesha" (time) is class 5, giving "liphi", and the preposition "nga-" produces "ngaliphi"

9. Nifundisa i-MMA okanye i-BJJ apha?

   Do you teach MMA or BJJ here?

   Usage

   South Africa has one of the most developed MMA scenes on the continent, with EFC events staged regularly in Johannesburg and Cape Town. BJJ academies are common in the cities and follow international belt standards

   Grammar Note

   "Ni-" is the second-person plural subject prefix, also used when addressing a business or organisation politely. Acronyms take the class prefix "i-" joined with a hyphen

10. Ukungcweka kwenziwa phi kule ndawo?

    Where in this area is stick fighting practised?

    Usage

    "Ukungcweka" is Nguni stick fighting, using two sticks (intonga) — one to parry, one to strike. It is a rural Eastern Cape tradition practised by boys herding cattle rather than taught in classes, and is sometimes performed at ceremonies and weddings

    Grammar Note

    "Ngc" is one of the Xhosa click consonants: a nasalised voiced dental click. Xhosa has three click series — c (dental), x (lateral) and q (palatal) — each with voiced, nasal and aspirated variants

11. Ndicela undibonise le nto kwakhona.

    Please show me that again

    Usage

    The standard request while learning a technique. Instruction usually happens in English, but asking a Xhosa-speaking coach this way earns you as many repetitions as you need. If you do not know the name of the move, "le nto" (this thing) will do

    Grammar Note

    The infix "-ndi-" is the object marker "me". "-Bonisa" (to show) is "-bona" (to see) plus the causative "-isa", and in a request the final vowel becomes "-e"

12. Kukho ishawa nelokhari apha?

    Is there a shower and a locker here?

    Usage

    South African gyms are generally well equipped, but always put valuables in a locker or leave them at the desk. Never leave a bag unattended in the changing room

    Grammar Note

    When "na-" (and) joins a noun the vowels coalesce: "na + ilokhari" becomes "nelokhari". This kind of vowel fusion is pervasive in Xhosa spelling

13. Phakamisa izandla zakho, ujonge emehlweni omchasi!

    Get your hands up, look into your opponent's eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Instructions come as short imperatives and carry no rudeness. In South African gyms English mixes freely with Xhosa and Zulu

    Grammar Note

    A positive command uses the bare verb stem (phakamisa). "Emehlweni" is the locative of "amehlo" (eyes), formed with an initial e- and the ending -eni

14. Khaba ngamandla akho onke, sukuzibamba!

    Kick with everything you have, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach, one of the most frequent shouts during pad work. In actual sparring you are far more likely to hear "light!", so this command applies to pads and bags

    Grammar Note

    "Suku-" forms a negative command and is the colloquial contraction of "musa uku-". With the reflexive "-zi-" the stem gives "zibamba" (to hold oneself back)

15. Phumla imizuzu emihlanu, usele amanzi.

    Rest five minutes and drink water

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Johannesburg sits at about 1,750 metres, and newcomers get out of breath quickly. Bring your own water, though some gyms have a fountain

    Grammar Note

    Numerals agree with noun class: class 4 "imizuzu" (minutes) takes "emihlanu" (five). The second command shifts to the subjunctive with the final vowel "-e"

16. Sigqibile namhlanje. Wenze kakuhle!

    We are done for today. You did well!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. South African gyms usually finish with everyone shaking hands or bumping fists. Reply with "enkosi" (thank you)

    Grammar Note

    "Gq" is an aspirated palatal click. The suffix "-ile" marks the perfect: "si-" (we) plus "-gqib-" (finish) plus "-ile". "Kakuhle" (well) carries the adverbial prefix "ka-"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages