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The following is a list oftimekeeping terminology in theisiXhosa language.
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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:
| English | IsiXhosa | Explanation of the months |
|---|---|---|
| January | EyoMqungu[1] | month of thetambuki grass[1] |
| February | EyoMdumba | month of the swellinggrain[1] |
| March | EyoKwindla | month of theAutumn[1] |
| April | UTshazimpuzi | month of the Drying leaves |
| May | UCanzibe / EyeCanzibe | month ofCanopus[1] |
| June | EyeSilimela | month of thePleiades[1] |
| July | EyeKhala / EyeNtlaba | month of thealoes[1] |
| August | EyeThupha | month of thebuds[1] |
| September | EyoMsintsi | month of thecoast coral tree |
| October | EyeDwarha | month of thelilypad or yet tall yellow daisies |
| November | EyeNkanga | month of the small yellowdaisies |
| December | EyoMnga | month of theacacia thorn tree |
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Year naming and numbering |
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