The following is a list of timekeeping terminology in the isiXhosa language.

Month names

Traditional

The traditional isiXhosa names for months of the year poetically come from names of stars, plants, and flowers that grow or seasonal changes that happen at a given time of year in Southern Africa.

The Xhosa year traditionally begins in June and ends in May when the brightest star visible in the Southern Hemisphere, Canopus, signals the time for harvesting.

In urban areas today, anglicized versions of the months are used, especially by the younger generation, but in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, the old names still stand.

Month by month they are, in relation with:

Gregorian

EnglishIsiXhosaExplanation of the months
JanuaryEyoMqungumonth of the tambuki grass
FebruaryEyoMdumbamonth of the swelling grain
MarchEyoKwindlamonth of the first fruits
AprilUTshazimpunzimonth of the withering pumpkins
MayUCanzibe / EyeCanzibemonth of Canopus
JuneEyeSilimelamonth of the Pleiades
JulyEyeKhala / EyeNtlabamonth of the aloes
AugustEyeThuphamonth of the buds
SeptemberEyoMsintsimonth of the coast coral tree
OctoberEyeDwarhamonth of the lilypad or yet tall yellow daisies
NovemberEyeNkangamonth of the small yellow daisies
DecemberEyoMngamonth of the acacia thorn tree

Seasons

Days of the week

  • Sunday - iCawa
  • Monday - uMvulo
  • Tuesday - uLwesibini
  • Wednesday - uLwesithathu
  • Thursday - uLwesine
  • Friday - uLwesihlanu
  • Saturday - uMgqibelo

See also

Further reading

  • Kirsch et al., Clicking with Xhosa, David Phillip Publishers, Cape Town, 2001, p. 43f.
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