ibhokhwe
[íb̥ǒ̤ːkʰʷe]class 10, class 9
The Xhosa word for goat is ibhokhwe.
ibhokhwe refers to the animal known as a goat.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is categorized under class 9 and class 10.
Did you know?
- Goats are frequently used in traditional Xhosa rituals to communicate with ancestors, where the animal serves as a spiritual medium.
- In Xhosa culture, goats are often used as a form of currency or payment in traditional negotiations for 'lobola', the bride price.
- The word ibhokhwe shares a common ancestor with the English word 'buck' and the German 'Bock'.
Examples in context
- Sifumile ibhokhwe emhlophe.We have a white goat.
- Ibhokhwe idla utshani.The goat eats grass.
Example conversation
Thando and Lwazi are visiting a farm.
- ThandoKhangela leya bhokhwe!Look at that goat!
- LwaziIbhokhwe lihle kakhulu, Thando.The goat is very beautiful, Thando.
- ThandoNgaba siza kuyithenga?Are we going to buy it?
- LwaziEwe, siza kuyithenga.Yes, we are going to buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries ibhokhwe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ibhokhwe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
