Amaxesha onyaka, iintsuku zeveki
nokubala.
Seasons, days of the week and counting)
7 March 2024
11 March 2024
Iziphumo zesifundo (Lesson outcomes)
After completing the lesson, you should be able
to:-
Ask and tell which day of the week it is
Ask and tell time
Ask what the weather is like
Talk about the weather in different seasons
Numbers one to ten
Ukuchaza iintsuku zeveki ngesiXhosa (Explaning
days of the week in isiXhosa)
Days in isiXhosa English equivalent
UMvulo Monday
ULwesibini Tuesday
ULwesithathu Wednesday
ULwesine Thursday
ULwesihlanu Friday
UMgqibelo Saturday
ICawa Sunday
Iintsingiselo ngeentsuku zeveki (Meanings
attached to days of the week)
Inkcubeko idlala indima enkulu. Culture and the belief system plays a big role in naming days of
the week. Eg,
• Vula- means to open. AmaXhosa believe that ngoMvulo you open the week Monday- first day
of the week.
• LwesiBini- is the 2nd day. Tuesday is the 2nd day
• LwesiThathu- is the 3rd day. Wednesday is the 3rd day
• LweSine- is the 4th day. Thursday the 4th day of the week
• LwesiHlanu- is the 5th day. Friday is the 5th day
• Gqiba- to finish. On Friday, amaXhosa finish the week.
• Cawa- to church. Sunday is the church day.
Unlike Babylonians, Tuesday is the first day of the week. The days are named after planetary
bodies
How to say ON (DAY OF THE WEEK)
In isiXhosa language, ‘NGA’ SHARES the meaning ascribed to the preposition ON & AT .
On Monday= NgoMvulo
Nga + uMvulo
ngoMvulo
On Sunday = NgeCawa
Nga + iCawa
ngeCawa
Ubuza njani ukuba loluphi usuku (How to ask
which/ what day it is)
Kungolwesingaphi namhlanje? (It is which day today?)
Kungolwesingaphi ngomso? (It is which day tomorrow?)
Bekungolwesingaphi izolo? (It was which day yesterday?)
Ukuchaza ixesha (Telling time)
Uza kufika nini? (He/she will arrive when?)
Uza kufika ngomso. (He/ she will arrive tomorrow)
Uza kubuya nini? (He/she will return when?)
Amanani ngesiXhosa (Numbers in isiXhosa
Inye (One)
Zimbini (Two)
Zintathu (Three)
Zine (Four)
Zintlanu (Five)
Zintandathu (Six)
Zisixhenxe (Seven)
Zisibhozo (Eight)
Zilithoba (Nine)
Zilishumi (Ten)
For the purposes of this module, numerals/ numbers above ten will be referred to as ninzi. Ninzi
(adjective) on its own is meaningless, a subject concord has to be infixed to the stem to determine the
meaning.
Isimboli (Symbol) Inkcazo ngesiXhosa Explanation in English Umzekelo (example)
+ Dibanisa Addition 7+1= 8
- Thabatha/ susa Subtract 5-3=2
= Zenza Equal sign 5=3+2
÷ Yohlula Divide 8÷2=4
< Inani likhulu kunelinye Greater than 5<4
> Inani lincinci kunelinye Smaller than 3>5
× Phindaphinda Multiply 3×2=6
Igama ngesiXhosa English equivalent
Yandisa Increase
Nyusa Make higher
Thoba/ yehlisa Make lower
Nyuka Go up
Thengisa Sell
Thenga Buy
Chitha Spend
Hlawula/ bhatala Pay
Yamkela Earn
Funa Need/ want
Qingqa imali Budget
Tsala/ khweba Attract
Bhengeza Advertise
Gcina Keep
Boleka Borrow
Buyisa/ jikisa Return/ repay
Ukuthetha ngemozulu (Talk about the weather)
Injani imozulu namhlanje? How is the weather today?
Intle/ imbi (it is fine/ bad).
Inomoya (It is windy)
Kuyanetha (It is raining)
Kushushu (It is hot)
Kufudumele (It is warm)
Linamafu (It is partly cloudy)
Kuyabaneka (There is lightning)
Kukho iindudumo (There is lightning)
Iyakhwitsha/ iyafefeza (It is raining slightly)
Ukuthetha ngemozulu (Talking about the
weather)
Kukho inkungu (There is mist)
Umoya uyavuthuza (The wind is blowing)
Umoya upholile (The wind is cool)
Umoya ufudumele (The wind is warm)
Ilanga liyakhanya (The wind is shining)
Ndiyagodola (I am cold)
Kuqala ukubanda (It is beginning to become cold(er)
Kuyabanda (It is cold)
Ilanga liyatshisa (The sun is very hot/ ‘burning’)
Amaxesha onyaka (Seasons of the year)
Mane amaxesha onyaka kunyaka ( four seasons in a year).
Ihlobo (Summer). It is friendly season.
Ubusika (Winter). It is the pruning season.
Ukwindla (Autumn). There is abundance of fresh produce that
has to be eaten before winter season comes/ when food is
scarce.
Intlakohlaza/ Intwasahlobo (Spring). Indicates an
appearance of green grass & closer to summer.
Month in isiXhosa English equivalent Explanation
EYOMQUNGU (Tambuki grass) JANUARY The month of tambuki/ thatching grass. It is also used to weave baskets and mats.
EYOMDUMBA (To swell) FEBRUARY It is a month of swelling. This refers to the swelling of grain and seeds.
EYOKWINDLA (Harvesting period) MARCH It is the month of first harvest.
EKATSHAZIMPUNZI (To wither) APRIL It is the month of withering or frost-bitten pumpkins.
EKACANZIBE (The star Canopus) MAY It is the month Canpus/ a star may be seen before daybreak in May.
EYESILIMELA (The Pleiades) JUNE It is a month of Pleiades. Pleiades is an open star.
EYEKHALA (Aloe) JULY Hundreds of aloe species flower.
EYETHUPHA (Bud) AUGUST It is when trees form buds.
EYOMSINTSI (Coral tree/ Erythrina Caffra) SEPTEMBER Coral tree flowers.
EYEDWARA (Small ragwort/Senecio latifolius) OCTOBER It is when small ragwort flowers.
EYENKANGA (Large ragwort/ Senecio juniperinus ) NOVEMBER It is when larger ragwort flowers.
EYOMNGA (Mimosa thorn tree) DECEMBER It is when mimosa tree flowers.
