Please, thank you and goodbye in South African languages
Good manners open doors everywhere in South Africa. A few polite phrases in the local language show respect and often lead to a longer conversation.
- Thank you: Ngiyabonga (isiZulu), Enkosi (isiXhosa)
- Thank you: Dankie (Afrikaans)
- Goodbye: Hamba kahle, Sala kahle
- Please: Ngicela (isiZulu), Asseblief (Afrikaans)
Saying thank you
In isiZulu say Ngiyabonga, in isiXhosa Enkosi, in Afrikaans Dankie, and in Sesotho Kea leboha. Adding a smile and a nod matters as much as the words.
Please and sorry
Ngicela means “I request” in isiZulu and is used much like “please”, while Afrikaans uses Asseblief. For “sorry”, try Ngiyaxolisa in isiZulu, Uxolo in isiXhosa and Jammer in Afrikaans.
Goodbye
In isiZulu and isiXhosa, Hamba kahle means “go well” and is said to the person leaving, while Sala kahle means “stay well” and is said to the person staying. Afrikaans speakers say Totsiens.
Practise
Listen to local speakers and repeat the sounds slowly. Pronunciation varies by region, so treat these written forms as a starting point.
Our guides are simplified introductions, and spelling, tone and usage can vary by region and community.
