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 and 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 homepage. You can now check the next lesson below.