Language/Xhosa/Vocabulary/Relationship-Status
Relationship status is an important aspect of one's life, and being able to talk about it is crucial. In this lesson, you will learn the vocabulary related to relationships in Xhosa, such as single, married, and divorced, and practice talking about your own status.
Basic Relationship Vocabulary
Before diving into the specific relationship statuses, let's first learn some basic vocabulary related to relationships in Xhosa.
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Umntu | oo-mn-too | Person |
| Uyise | oo-yi-seh | Father |
| Umama | oo-ma-ma | Mother |
| Ubhuti | oo-bhoo-ti | Brother |
| Umlungu | oo-mloo-ngoo | Caucasian person (white person) |
| Umxhosa | oo-m-khoh-sa | Xhosa person |
| Umlomo | oo-m-lo-moh | Mouth |
| Uthando | oo-tun-doh | Love |
Specific Relationship Status
Single
To say "I am single" in Xhosa, you can say "Andifuni ukwazi ubhuti" which means "I don't want a boyfriend." The word "ubhuti" is typically gender-neutral and can be used to mean either a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
Another way to say "I am single" is "Ndifuna ukubuya ekhaya ndimhle" which means "I want to go home and rest." This is a more indirect way of expressing one's relationship status, but it still conveys the same idea.
Here are more vocabulary words related to being single:
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ukuphoxeka | oo-koo-p-ho-xeh-ka | To be single |
| Ukuphoxeka kwabanye | oo-koo-p-ho-xeh-ka kwa-ba-nye | To be alone |
| Abase-ke | a-ba-seh-keh | Bachelor |
| Amaqhawe | a-ma-kha-weh | Spinster |
| Ukukhuhlumeleka | oo-koo-khoo-lmeh-leh-ka | To be unattached |
In a Relationship
To say "I am in a relationship" in Xhosa, you can say "Ndinokhetha umntwana wam" which means "I have chosen my partner." The word "umntwana" is gender-neutral and can refer to either a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
Here are more vocabulary words related to being in a relationship:
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ukuphoxisana | oo-koo-p-hoh-ksi-sa-na | To date |
| Ukushada | oo-koo-sha-dah | To court |
| Umlobi | oo-m-loh-bee | Boyfriend |
| Umthandi | oo-m-tun-dee | Girlfriend |
| Umtshato | oo-m-tsha-toh | Engagement |
Married
To say "I am married" in Xhosa, you can say "Ndihambile" which means "I am taken." This phrase is gender-neutral and can be used by both men and women.
Here are more vocabulary words related to being married:
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ukugqilaza | oo-koo-ghee-la-zah | To marry |
| Isithembu | ee-see-them-boo | Polygamy |
| Ubuhle bendalo | oo-boo-hleh ben-dah-loh | Wedding |
| Indoda | ee-ndo-dah | Husband |
| Umfazi | oo-m-fa-zee | Wife |
Divorced/ Separated
To say "I am divorced/ separated" in Xhosa, you can say "Ndizova ntoni?" which means "What am I going to do?" This phrase implies the speaker is going through a tough time or transition, and the listener can typically infer that the speaker is divorced or separated from their partner.
Here are more vocabulary words related to being divorced/ separated:
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Isicelo sokuqala | ee-see-tsheh-loh soh-koo-kha-la | Divorce application |
| Ukugxeka | oo-koo-gh-zeh-kah | To separate |
| Ukulahlekelwa | oo-koo-lah-hleh-kel-wah | To break-up |
| Ukuhlutwa | oo-koo-hloo-twa | Infidelity |
Conversation Practice
Now that you have learned the vocabulary related to relationship status in Xhosa, practice talking about your own relationship status using the phrases and words you have learned in this lesson. Here are some example questions to get you started:
- Wena, unehlabathi? (Are you married?)
- Awu, andifuni ukwazi ubhuti. (No, I don't want a boyfriend.)
- Wena, ubhuti wakho uyaphi? (Where is your boyfriend?)
- Uyaphinda xy? (Are you getting back together?)
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned the vocabulary related to relationships in Xhosa, such as single, married, and divorced, and practiced talking about your own status. Remember to use these phrases and words in everyday conversation to become more comfortable using them. In the next lesson, we will learn vocabulary related to forming questions in Xhosa.