uphilile
The English phrase "are you okay?" is translated into Xhosa as uphilile.
In Xhosa, uphilile is a common greeting used to ask how someone is doing. While it can be translated as "are you well?", it functions socially as an equivalent to "how are you?" or "are you okay?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uphilile literally means "you are well".
Which one should you use?
uphilile is used to ask if one person is well. If you are addressing a group of people to ask if they are all okay, use niphilile instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form uphilile is the singular form used when addressing a single person. For the plural form addressing multiple people, use niphilile.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you uphilile?, a standard way to respond is ndiphilile, which means "I am well".
Did you know?
- The root of uphilile is the verb phila, which does not just mean 'to be well' but 'to be alive'. Asking uphilile? is essentially asking if the other person is still living.
- The plural form niphilile is used not only for groups but also as a mark of deep respect when addressing a single person of high status or age.
- The word phila is used in the term ubuntu, a philosophy emphasizing human interconnectedness. By asking uphilile, the speaker acknowledges the shared life and humanity between themselves and the listener.
Examples in context
- Unjani na?Are you okay?
- Ndiphilile, enkosi!I'm fine, thanks!
- Molo, uphilile?Hello, are you okay?
- Ndiyabuza, uphilile?I am asking, are you okay?
Example conversation
Siyabonga meets Zoleka on the street.
- SiyabongaMolo Zoleka, uphilile?Hello Zoleka, are you okay?
- ZolekaEwe, ndiphilile, enkosi.Yes, I am well, thank you.
- SiyabongaNdiyavuya ukuva oko.I am happy to hear that.
- ZolekaWena unjani?How are you?
