Xhosa calendar

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

Month names

Traditional

The traditional names for months come from names of plants or flowers that grow or seasonal changes that happen at a given time of year. They are:

• January – EyoMqungu (month of the Tambuki Grass)
• February – EyoMdumba (month of the swelling grain)
• March – EyoKwindla (month of the first fruits)
• April – UTshazimpuzi (month of the withering pumpkins)
• May – UCanzibe (month of Canopus)
• June - Isilimela (month of the Pleiades)
• July – EyeKhala / EyeNtlaba (month of the aloes)
• August – EyeThupha (month of the buds)
• September – EyoMsintsi (month of the coast coral tree)
• October – EyeDwarha (month of the lilypad)
• November – EyeNkanga (month of the small yellow daisies)
• December - EyoMnga (month of the Acacia tree)

Gregorian months

The modern names for the months are borrowed from the English equivalents:

• January - uJanuwari
• February - uFebhuwari
• March - uMatshi
• April - uApreli
• May - uMeyi
• June - uJuni
• July - uJulayi
• August - uAgasti
• September - uSeptemba
• October - uOktobha
• November - uNovemba
• December - uDisemba

Days of the week

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

Seasons

• Autumn - eKwindla
• Winter - uBusika
• Spring - iNtlako hlaza/iNtwasahlobo
• Summer - iHlobo

See also

• Xhosa language
• Xhosa people
• Xhosa clan names

Sources

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