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
Seasons
- Autumn - eKwindla
- Winter - uBusika
- Spring - iNtlako hlaza/iNtwasahlobo
- Summer - iHlobo
Days of the week
- Sunday - iCawa
- Monday - uMvulo
- Tuesday - uLwesibini
- Wednesday - uLwesithathu
- Thursday - uLwesine
- Friday - uLwesihlanu
- Saturday - uMgqibelo
See also
- Xhosa language
- Xhosa people
- Xhosa clan names
- Zulu calendar
Further reading
References
