Learning a language is a wonderful thing. Not only does it open you up to communicating with a whole lot of new people but it also introduces you to knew ways of thinking about things. Little phrases or words can reveal quite a lot about a culture, a people or a way of life. My opinion is that language is a way of thinking, so many times I've experienced someone tellign me something in Xhosa and I'll understand what they are saying but I would never have thought to say it in that way. The meaning is the same but the way of conveying it is different.
Below is a list of some of my favourite Xhosa words and phrases, the definitions are by no means precise but rather just how I've experienced them being used:
"bethu na" or "bethu nana" - literally means something like "our people" or "our children" but roughly translates to "ag, shame" and is used similarly: when one sees a cute child, or sympathises with someone (for example: oh, "bethu na", you look so tired today!)
"oh madoda!" - literally means "oh man!" similar use to "bethu na," my favourite is when used by old gogos (grandmothers).
"unantsika"
"ilantuza"
"ilantuka" - (not sure of spelling) all the above translate roughly to "thingymabob. " Can be used as a verb, for example, one could be found "lantuza"ing about the "nantsika." Took me a while to figure this out and in my initial conversations with Mama Nonyaniso (who punctuates her speech with a healthy dose of "unantsikas") I was confounded, thinking it must be a very important thing this "unantsika" to be spoken about so very much...
"unqabile" - literally means "you are scarce." Used as part of a greeting when you haven't seen someone for a while. Still haven't quite figured out how to respond to this- yes I have been scarce? Sorry?
"ingathi" - means "it's as if," this is used frequently to compare things. Also used to say, it sounds like or seems like for example "ingathi unefeva" meaning "it seems like you have a fever, it's as if you're getting sick"
"akhonto" - literally a contraction of "ayikho into" which means "nothing." I've heard this used very often as a response to a greeting. So, when asked how you are, you can respond by saying "Ndikhona/ndiphilile, akhonto," roughly meaning "I'm here/I'm well, nothing to complain about."
