Xhosa Numbers
Welcome to the sixth Xhosa lesson about numbers. This time we will learn about cardinal and ordinal numbers, followed by grammar rules, then animal names, finally a conversation in Xhosa to help you practice your daily phrases.
| Cardinal | Xhosa | Ordinal | Xhosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| one | inye  | first | okokuqala |
| two | zimbini | second | okwesibini |
| three | zintathu | third | okwesithathu |
| four | zine | fourth | okwesine |
| five | zintlanu | fifth | okwesihlanu |
| six | zintandathu | sixth | okwesithandathu |
| seven | isixhenxe | seventh | okwesixhenxe |
| eight | sisibhozo | eighth | okwesibhozo |
| nine | lithoba | ninth | okwesithoba |
| ten | lishumi | tenth | okweshumi |
| eleven | lishumi elinanye | eleventh | okweshumi elinanye |
| twelve | lishumi elinesibini | twelfth | okweshumi elinesibini |
| thirteen | lishumi elinesithathu | thirteenth | okweshumi elinesithathu |
| fourteen | lishumi elinesine | once | kanye |
| fifteen | lishumi elinesihlanu | twice | kabini |
| sixteen | lishumi elinesithandathu | Monday | umvulo |
| seventeen | lishumi elinesixhenxe | Tuesday | ulwesibini |
| eighteen | lishumi elinesibhozo | Wednesday | ulwesithathu |
| nineteen | lishumi elinethoba | Thursday | ulwesine |
| twenty | amashumi amabini | Friday | ulwesihlanu |
| seventy one | amashumi asixhenxe ananye | Saturday | umgqibelo |
| one hundred | likhulu | Sunday | icawa |
Numbers Grammar Rules
Xhosa cardinal numbers refer to the counting numbers, because they show quantity. For example: I speak two languages. Ordinal numbers on the other hand tell the order of things and their rank: my first language is Xhosa. The examples below use numbers in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
| Grammar + Rules | Xhosa |
|---|---|
| I have three dogs [number + noun] | ndinezinja ezintathu |
| my daughter has two cats [number + noun] | intombi yam ineekati ezimbini |
| she speaks seven languages [verb + number] | uthetha iilwimi ezisixhenxe |
| my brother has one son [number + singular noun] | umtakwethu unonyana omnye |
| this is my second lesson [ordinal number + noun] | esi sisifundo sam sesibini |
| did you read the third book? [ordinal number + noun] | uyifundile incwadi yesithathu? |
We're not done yet! The following is a list of animals.
cow inkomo | goat ibhokhwe | donkey idonki | horse ihashe |
dog inja | cat ikati | mouse impuku | bird intaka |
Conversation in Xhosa
Now we finally reach the last part, the practice of the daily conversations. These phrases are used to get to know new people, and break the ice.
| English | Xhosa |
|---|---|
| Where are you from? | uvelaphi? |
| I'm from the U.S | ndivela eU.S |
| I'm American | ndingumelika |
| Where do you live? | Uhlalaphi? |
| I live in the U.S | Ndihlala eU.S |
| What do you do for a living? | Uziphilisa ngantoni? |
| I'm a student | Ndiyafunda |
Did you enjoy this lesson about numbers in Xhosa? I hope so, if you have any problem with this lesson contact me with questions you have here. You can now check the next lesson below.
| Xhosa Phrases |
Inspirational Quote: Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. William B. Sprague |