Basic Nouns

1. Amanzi

   Water

   Usage

   Ask for drinking water; pair it with “bottle” if you want sealed water

   Grammar Note

   "Amanzi" is a class 6 noun with no singular. Xhosa nouns carry a class prefix (i-, isi-, um-, ama- …).

2. Ukutya

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food; useful when hunting for somewhere to eat

   Grammar Note

   "Ukutya" is a class 15 verbal noun meaning both "eating" and "food."

3. Imali

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for paying and changing currency

4. Indlu yangasese

   Toilet

   Usage

   Combine it with the “where” question

5. Ithishu

   Tissue

   Usage

   Many toilets have no paper — use this word to buy some

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English "tissue." Loan nouns join class 5 (i-/ama-); the plural is "amathishu."

6. Iyeza

   Medicine

   Usage

   At a pharmacy; combine it with gestures for your symptom

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 (i-) noun; the plural is "amayeza."

7. Impahla

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, carrying on, or reporting lost bags

8. Isitshixo

   Key

   Usage

   At hotel reception when collecting or returning it

   Grammar Note

   A class 7 (isi-) noun; the plural is "izitshixo."

9. Itikiti

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both transport tickets and admission tickets

10. Ipasipoti

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, currency exchange, and any police check

11. Ifowuni

    Phone

    Usage

    When you need to borrow one or ask for a number

12. Itshaja

    Charger

    Usage

    To borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one in a shop

13. Isikhululo

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. Isibhedlele

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Amapolisa

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; combine it with “where?”

    Grammar Note

    "Amapolisa" is the class 6 plural, used for the police as an institution; one officer is "ipolisa."

16. Ivenkile

    Shop

    Usage

    When looking for somewhere to buy something

17. Igumbi

    Room

    Usage

    Use it when asking a hotel about vacancies

18. Indlela

    Road

    Usage

    The base word when asking the way

19. Usapho

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic; showing photos goes a long way

20. Igama

    Name

    Usage

    For introductions and for giving your name at a counter

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 (i-) noun; the plural is "amagama."

21. Intloko

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; plural "iintloko."

22. Iliso

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 (ili-) noun; the plural is the irregular "amehlo."

23. Izinyo

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amazinyo."

24. Umqala

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat; the word also covers the neck, so point to be precise

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun.

25. Intamo

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at your neck

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

26. Isisu

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Show where your stomach ache is

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (isi-) noun; plural "izisu."

27. Umhlana

    Back

    Usage

    Point at your back

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun.

28. Umqolo

    Lower back

    Usage

    Point at your lower back or spine

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; also means the spine.

29. Unyawo

    Foot

    Usage

    Point at your foot

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (u-) noun; plural "iinyawo."

30. Umlenze

    Leg

    Usage

    Point at your leg

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; plural "imilenze."

31. Isandla

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at your hand

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun; plural "izandla."

32. Ingalo

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at your arm

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; plural "iingalo."

33. Isifuba

    Chest

    Usage

    Point at your chest

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun; plural "izifuba."

34. Indlebe

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at your ear

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; plural "iindlebe."

35. Igxalaba

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at your shoulder

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amagxalaba."

36. Idolo

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at your knee

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amadolo."

37. Umnwe

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at your finger

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun; plural "iminwe."

38. Isikhumba

    Skin

    Usage

    Point at your skin when showing a rash or irritation

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (isi-) noun; the plural is izikhumba.

39. Impumlo

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at your nose

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

40. Umlomo

    Mouth

    Usage

    Point at your mouth

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun; plural "imilomo."

41. Ihotele

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show where you want to go, or ask for a hotel

42. Isikhululo seenqwelomoya

    Airport

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi driver as your destination

43. Isitophu sebhasi

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Ask where the bus stop is

44. Indawo yokutshintsha imali

    Money exchange

    Usage

    Look for a place to change money

45. Indawo yokuhlamba iimpahla

    Laundry

    Usage

    Look for a place to wash clothes

46. I-ATM

    ATM

    Usage

    Look for a cash machine

47. I-embasi

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show that you need to reach your embassy

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