In Xhosa, we have basic verbs, what we know as ‘doing
words’. They are actions, and appropriately, they
always end with an ‘a’ in their basic present tense,
positive form. Below are examples:

Learn - funda Talk - thetha
Listen - mamela Try - zama
Go - hamba Stay - sala
Live - hlala Work - sebenza
Do/Make - enza* Repeat - phinda
Go home - goduka Ask - buza
Want/need - funa Look - jonga
See - bona Request - cela
Help - nceda Praise/be grateful - bulela
Like/love – thanda Remember - khumbula

Hear/perceive -– (i)va* Understand - qonda

Use - sebenzisa Greet - bulisa
Quiet - thula Hurry, be quick - khawuleza

* enza and (i)va work slightly differently from the rest,
due to them starting with a vowel, and it is
recommended that you not use them in the initial
exercises of this lesson. As the course progresses, you
will see how and when they are used.
* Three exceptions (Don’t end in-a):
Say – thi know – azi Exclaim - tsho
Don’t worry about these for now.

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