Language/Xhosa/Vocabulary/Geography
Hi Xhosa learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Xhosa vocabulary related to geography. Geography is an interesting subject that deals with features of the earth and its atmosphere. It is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. We will learn some Xhosa words that will enable us to talk about geography in a more comprehensive manner.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Days of the Week & Days of the week and time expressions.
Landforms[edit | edit source]
Landforms are various physical features that occur on land. They include mountains, hills, valleys, plateaus, and many more. Let us learn some Xhosa words related to these landforms.
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| imithi | ee-mee-tee | trees |
| ikhohlwa | ee-kho-lwa | hill |
| amaqhawe | a-ma-kha-we | mountain |
| inkundla | in-koon-dla | valley |
| esezi | eh-seh-zee | plateau |
| ihashe | ee-ha-sheh | horse |
Here's a dialogue about landforms:
- Person 1: Ukhona inkundla endala nje? (Have you ever been to an old valley?)
- Person 2: Ndisazi inkundla ethi eThekwini. (I know a valley called eThekwini.)
Bodies of water[edit | edit source]
Water is an essential element on earth. It covers about 71% of the earth's surface. Bodies of water are natural features that occur on the earth's surface. They include oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and many more. The following are some Xhosa words related to these bodies of water.
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| amanzi | a-ma-nzi | water |
| umfula | oom-foo-la | river |
| ulwandle | ool-wun-dleh | ocean |
| iinkuni | ee-nkoo-nee | lakes |
| amalungu | a-ma-loon-goo | seas |
| ukuhlutshwa | ooh-koo-hloo-tshwa | waterfall |
Here's a dialogue about bodies of water:
- Person 1: Ufuna ukuphuma ngesibhakabhaka saseMzantsi Afrika? (Do you want to travel by boat in South Africa?)
- Person 2: Yebo, ndifuna ukuvuka ngezulu kwezitimela. (Yes, I want to sail on top of the waves.)
Weather[edit | edit source]
The weather is the condition of the atmosphere, including temperature, precipitation, and wind. Xhosa people have a rich history of understanding and predicting the weather patterns. Here are some Xhosa words related to weather.
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| iqela | ee-kheh-la | cloud |
| umoya | ooh-moy-ya | wind |
| ukuthuthuma | ooh-koo-thoo-thoo-ma | storm |
| umsindo | oom-see-ndo | heat |
| ukuthatha | ooh-koo-tha-ta | snow |
| umbane | oom-ba-neh | lightning |
Here's a dialogue about weather:
- Person 1: Iqela lifuneka njani namhlanje? (How are the clouds today?)
- Person 2: Lifuna ukuthuthuma namhlanje. (It looks like there will be a storm today.)
Directions[edit | edit source]
Directions refer to locations or positions with respect to where one is standing. It is important to know directions if you want to find your way around a new place. Here are some Xhosa words related to directions:
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ngaphandle | nga-phandle | outside |
| ngaphansi | nga-pan-see | underneath |
| ngaphezulu | nga-pheh-zoo-loo | above |
| ngaphelele | nga-pheh-leh-leh | all around |
| phambi kwe | pham-bee kweh | in front of |
| emva kwe | em-vah kweh | behind |
Here's a dialogue about directions:
- Person 1: Wena, uyaphi manje? (Where are you now?)
- Person 2: Ndihamba ngaphandle kwesikhashana. (I'm walking outside the mall.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
We have learned some important Xhosa vocabulary related to geography such as landforms, bodies of water, weather, and directions. It is important to learn new words and use them in our daily conversations, it will help us communicate better. Remember, to improve your Xhosa Vocabulary, you can use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Main colors & Clothes.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]