Table Of ContentThis English-Xhosa Dictionary answers
a long-felt need for a comprehensive
English-Xhosa dictionary. It has been
compiled with a twofold aim in mind:
to meet the needs of the Xhosa speaker
who wants to understand and use
English words and expressions in the
correct manner, and also to meet the
needs of the English speaker who is
trying to master Xhosa.
Some important features
■ very practical and easy to use, con-
taining 15 000 main entries and many
more thousands of derivations
■ vocabulary of everyday English and
other words likely to be met in litera-
ture
■ many technical English terms and
idiomatic expressions, compounds,
derivatives and phrasal verbs clearly
conveyed in Xhosa
■ many examples to demonstrate uses
and meanings
■ when necessary, words are indicated
as literary, colloquial, slang, formal,
legal, archaic, etc.
■ the class system of Xhosa nouns is
clearly indicated.
0See back flap for details about the
author)
LIBRARY
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https://archive.org/details/englishxhosadictOOfisc
ENGLISH-XHOSA DICTIONARY
*s
ENGLISH-XHOSA
DICTIONARY
A. FISCHER
Elisabeth Weiss
Ernest Mdala
Sonwabo Tshabe
1985
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAPE TOWN
Oxjord University Press
OXFORD NEW YORK
TORONTO MELBOURNE AUCKLAND
NAIROBI DAR ES SALAAM CAPE TOWN
PETALING JAYA SINGAPORE HONG KONG TOKYO
DELHI BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS KARACHI
AND ASSOCIATES IN
BEIRUT BERLIN IBADAN NICOSIA
ISBN 0 19 570290 5
This bilingual dictionary, based on the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
of Current English 3/e, is published by arrangement with Oxford University Press,
Oxford, England.
Copyright © 1985 Oxford University Press
OXFORD is a Trademark of Oxford University Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of Oxford University Press, Southern Africa
Printed and bound by Citadel Press, Lansdowne, Cape
Published by Oxford University Press, Harrington House,
Barrack Street, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
Preface
The idea for this English-Xhosa Dictionary was conceived during many years of study-
ing and teaching Xhosa, and being confronted with the lack of an appropriate English-
Xhosa Dictionary. When the foundation for the dictionary was laid in 1975 it was plan-
ned as a small handbook, aimed at the English-speaking student learning Xhosa.
When discussing the project with teachers at local schools it became clear to me that
there was a long-felt* need amongst Xhosa-speaking students as well.
We then started to expand on the entries, trying to meet the needs of the English-speak-
ing student wishing to master Xhosa and to cover the needs of the Xhosa-speaking student
confronted with essays and literature in the English curriculum.
In the end the project proved to be a mammoth task.
During the years we received a lot of encouragement from the local community of teachers
and students who willingly gave their advice. Difficulties were frequently encountered
when there was no equivalent in Xhosa for an English entry, and in translating abstract
concepts. In many instances explanations and descriptions had to be given. Words which
have been borrowed from English and Afrikaans and which are in common use, were in-
cluded. For the sake of the Xhosa-speaking student studying English literature, some
more literary English words and expressions were retained.
We hope that this dictionary will help to make Xhosa accessible to anyone who wishes
to learn and use the language, and encourage the Xhosa-speaking population to use the
English language well. If this English-Xhosa Dictionary can be a step forward to better
communication between the two language groups it has fulfilled its aim.
Qoqodala, 10-6-1985
Acknowledgements
The English-Xhosa Dictionary is based on the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of Current
English and the Concise Oxford Dictionary. All the existing Xhosa Dictionaries were
consulted, particularly the Kafir English Dictionary by Kropf /Godfrey, the New Concise
Xhosa-English Dictionary by J. McLaren and Xhosa Terminology and Orthography
No. 3 by the Department of Bantu Education.
Without the advice and financial support of the former Rector of the Lumko Mis-
siological Institute, the Reverend- Father H. Slattery, this project might never have pro-
gressed.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Miss Nozazela Nebulani and Miss Noziphiwo
Keva who have been most helpful, especially during the early stages of compiling this
dictionary. Special reference must be made to the assistance rendered by Miss Phumla
Tywabi who, with admirable diligence, helped both in the translations and in reading the
proofs.
Most of all, however, I am deeply indebted to Dr Elisabeth Weiss for her help. Her
inspiration and encouragement have been a source of strength throughout the project.
She has carried the major part of the work load untiringly. Not only did she help to com-
pile the entries, but she also did all the typing. Without her co-operation, this dictionary
might never have seen the light of day.
To the editors at Oxford University Press, Cape Town, and to the many others who have
lent a helping hand, I offer my most sincere thanks.
