Description
Your first steps in isiXhosa: greet, introduce yourself, count, shop and talk about home, with a clear say-it-like guide to the famous click sounds. This is the full written study guide for isiXhosa CEFR A1 (Beginners): about 4,000 words to work through at your own pace, viewable online from your student dashboard for as long as you own it.
What is inside
- 13 modules with vocabulary tables: 169 words and phrases, each with its meaning and, where given, a say-it-like pronunciation hint
- A sounds and pronunciation section
- 2 dialogues to read aloud, line by line with meanings
- 8 grammar and usage notes with examples and tips
- Practice exercises (matching, fill in the missing word, translation and a self-check) with a full answer key
Modules in this guide
- About isiXhosa
- Greetings & courtesy
- Introduce yourself
- Numbers 1–10
- Numbers 11–20, tens & big numbers
- Days, time & when
- Food & drink
- Shopping & money
- Places & directions
- Speaking Like a Local – Formal vs Everyday
- Family & people
- Around the home
- Feelings & useful expressions
By the end of this level you can
- Greet people politely at different times and take leave correctly (Hamba kakuhle / Sala kakuhle).
- Introduce yourself – say your name, where you are from and where you live – and ask the same of others.
- Count from 1 to 20, use the tens, and say 100 and 1000.
- Name the days of the week and ask and tell a simple time or 'when'.
- Order and ask the price of common food and drink, and handle simple money exchanges.
Good to know
- Viewable online in your account, on any device. It is not a download to keep.
- A Teach Yourself level: this level’s interactive lessons plus its full written guide. No certificate, and not a live or tutor-marked course.
- Built from the same content as our interactive isiXhosa A1 lessons.
Get every level for less
The complete isiXhosa pack ($99) includes all six isiXhosa study guides (A1 to C2) plus the interactive online lessons for every level.
Practise speaking
When you are ready to use it in conversation, find a tutor for 1-on-1 lessons.