Language/Xhosa/Vocabulary/Animals
Welcome to today's lesson on Xhosa vocabulary related animals including the wild animals found in South Africa.
As you may know, South Africa is home to a diverse array of animal life, from the famous Big Five to lesser-known but equally fascinating creatures.
Learning the Xhosa names for these animals will not only deepen your understanding of South African culture and language, but also enhance your experience when observing them in their natural habitat.
So, let's dive into the world of Xhosa animal vocabulary and discover the beauty of South Africa's wildlife.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Weather & Geography.
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
| English | Xhosa |
|---|---|
| ant(s) | imBovane / iimBovane |
| baboon(s) | imFene / iimFene |
| bat(s) | iLulwane / amaLulwane |
| bee(s) | inYosi / iinYosi |
| buffalo(s) | inYathi / iinYathi |
| bull (x) | inKunzi / iinKunzi |
| butterfly(s) | iBhadi / amaBhadi, iBhabhathane / iiBhabhathane |
| cage(s) | iHoko / iiHoko |
| calf (calves) | iThole lenKomo, (inkonyane) / amathole enkomo |
| cat(s) | iKati / iiKati |
| Caterpillar | iTrekkile |
| chameleon(s) | iLovane, uLovane / amaLovane |
| chick(s) | iNtshontsho / amaNtshontsho |
| cockroach(s), cockroach(s) | iPhela / amaPhela |
| cows) | inKomo / iinKomo |
| crab(s) | uNonkala / ooNonkala |
| crayfish | iKoloFishi |
| dairy goat(s) | iBhokhwe yoBisi / iiBhokhwe zoBisi |
| dogs | inJa / izinJa |
| dolphin(s) | iHlengesi / iiHlengesi |
| donkey(s) | imBongolo / iimBongolo, iDonki / iiDonki |
| dove(s), pigeon(s) | iHobe / amaHobe |
| duck(s) | iDada / amaDada, iKewu / iiKewu |
| Eagles) | uKhozi / ooKhozi |
| earthworm / earthworms | umSundulu / imiSundulu |
| ewe, sheep | iGusha / iiGusha |
| falcon(s) | inTambane / iinTambane |
| fish / fish | inTlanzi / iinTlanzi |
| flea(s) | inTakumba / iinTakumba |
| fly(s) | imPukane / iimPukane |
| foal | inkonyana yeHashe |
| Fox | imPungutye |
| frog(s) | iSele / amaSele |
| goat(s), billy goat(s) | iBhokhwe / iiBhokhwe |
| goose(s) | uRhanisi / imiRhanisi, iHansi [Zulu] |
| grasshopper(s) | inTothoviyane / iinTothoviyane |
| heifer(s) | iThoKazi lenKomo / amaThoKazi enKomo |
| hen(s) | isiKhukukazi / iziKhukukazi |
| hornet(s) | iNomanxezane / ooNomanxezane |
| horsefly(s) | isiBawu / iziBawu |
| insects) | isiNambuzane / iziNambuzane |
| lamb(s) | iTakane / amaTakane |
| lizard(s) | iCilikishe / amaCilikishe, iCikilishe / amaCikilishe |
| locust(s) | iQakamba, iKirikitsi, inYenzane / iinYenzane |
| Mare | iThokazi leHashe |
| mason wasp(s) | isiDunguli / iziDunguli |
| mold(s) | imBaza / (iimBaza) |
| mole(s) | inTuku / iinTuku |
| monkey(s) | inKawu / iinKawu |
| mosquito(s) | inGcongconi / iinGcongconi |
| mouse | imPuku / iimPuku |
| octopus, octopus | inGwane / (iinGwane) |
| ostrich(s) | inCiniba / iinCiniba |
| Oysters) | iWastizi / iiWastizi |
| parrot(s) | isiKhwenene / iziKhwenen |
| pig(s), pig(s) | iHagu / iiHagu |
| piglet(s) | iNtshontsho / amaNtshontsho eHagu |
| porcupine | inCanda / (iinCanda) |
| Praying mantis | umCikwane / umNtan' eZulu |
| python(s) | inTlwathi / iinTlwathi, iNamba / amaNamba |
| rabbit(s) | umVundla / imiVundla |
| ram(s) | inKunzi yeGusha / iinKunzi zeGusha |
| rat(s) | iBuzi / iiBuzi |
| rattlesnake(s) | uNomathambezantsi / ooNomathambezantsi |
| rooster(s) | iQhagi / amaQhagi |
| shark(s) | uKrebe / ooKrebe |
| shell(s) | iQobokhe / amaQobokhe |
| slugs | iinKumba eziNcinane |
| snail(s) | inKumba / iinKumba |
| snake(s) | inYoka / iinYoka |
| spider(s) | isiGcawu / iziGcawu |
| squirrel(s) | uNomatse / ooNomatse |
| tapeworm | intshulube |
| the bear | iBhere |
| the bird / birds | inTaka / iinTaka |
| the buffalo toad | iXoxo / amaXoxo |
| the burrow | umNgxuma |
| the Canary | iKhanari |
| the centipede | inKuma / (iinKuma), iSongololo |
| the cotton larva | umBungu |
| the crow the crow | uNomyani |
| the cuttlefish | umGola |
| the deer | inXala |
| the dragonfly | isaBonkolo |
| the fawn | iTakane |
| the gull, the seagull | iNgaba-ngaba / (iiNgaba-ngaba) |
| the horse / horses | iHashe / amaHashe |
| the iguana | uXam |
| the kid | iTakane |
| the kitten | iKatana |
| the nest | indlwana |
| the owl, the owl | isiKhova / (iziKhova) |
| the quail | inKwali / (iinKwali) |
| The sow | iMazi yeHagu |
| the spiderweb | iWebhu |
| the tree snake | inYushu / (iinYushu) |
| the whistling hare | imBila / (iimBila) |
| turkey, turkey | (iKarukwini) |
| turtle(s) | uFudo / ooFudo |
| turtledove(s) | uNtamnyama / ooNtamnyama |
| vulture(s) | iXhalanga / iiXhalanga |
| wasp(s) | uNomeva / ooNomeva |
| whale(s) | umNenga / imiNenga |
| wolf(s) | inGcuka / iinGcuka |
Wildlife in South Africa[edit | edit source]
South Africa boasts a diverse array of wildlife, thanks to the variety of climates found within its borders. The tropical, continental, subtropical, and semi-desert climates all contribute to the region's unique and dense faunal richness. Visitors to South Africa can marvel at the presence of approximately 270 species of mammals and over 830 species of birds. While the country is famous for the Big Five - lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes - there are also many other fascinating animals to observe up close, such as giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, and hippos. Bird enthusiasts will be delighted by the range of species found in South African forests and savannahs, including ostriches, bats, royal rue, storks, eagles, falcons, flamingos, and herons. During game drives, visitors will have the opportunity to observe many other species, including:
- Wild dogs
- Meerkats
- Warthogs
- Hyenas
- Baboons
- Monkeys
- Antelopes (such as impalas, kudus, and springboks)
- Wildebeests
- Crocodiles
- Snakes (including pythons and cobras)
- Lizards and chameleons
- Beetles, butterflies, and other insects
Video[edit | edit source]
Source[edit | edit source]
- http://xhosa.free.fr/index.htm
- https://www.marcovasco.fr/afrique/afriquedusud/guide-afriquedusud/faune-et-flore-dafrique-du-sud.html
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Family
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Languages
- Greetings
- Fruits
- Days of the Week
- Clothes
- Weather
- Drinks
- Food