Venda phrasebook

Venda also known as Tshivenda is a language spoken by the people of Venda who resides in Northern region of South Africa such as Limpopo and Lemba provinces. The dialect is also spoken by people in Zimbabwe.

Phrase list

Basics

How are you?
Vho vuwa hani?
What's your name?
Dzina lavho ndi nnyi?
My name is ...
Dzina langa ndi ...
Where are you from?
Ni bva gai?
I'm from ...
Ndi bva ...
Pleased to meet you
Ndo takala ro divhana
Goodbye
Kha vha sale (to person staying)
Goodbye
Vha tshimbile zwavhudi (to person leaving)
I don't understand
A thi pfesesi
Please speak more slowly
Ndi humbela uri vha ambe nga u ongolowa
Please say that again
Ndi humbela uri vha dovholole
Please write it down
Kha vha tou nwala
Do you speak English?
Vha a amba English naa?
Do you speak Venda?
Vha a amba naa?
How do you say ... in Venda?
Hi pfi ... ndi mini nga Tshivenḓa
Excuse me
Tshiimo tsha shishi
How much is this?
Zwi ita vhugai?
Sorry
Ndi khou humbela pfarelo
Please
Ndi khou tou humbela
Thank you
Ndo livhuwa
I love you
Ndi a ni funa
Good luck
Mashudu mavhuya

Problem/Emergency

Help!
Thuso!
Call the police!
Ndi humbela uri vha founele mapholisa!

Numbers

Numbers

1
thihi
2
mbili
3
raru
4
ia
5
hanu
6
rathi
7
sumbe
8
malo
9
ahe
10
fumi
11
fumithihi
12
fumimbili
13
fumiraru
14
fumia
15
fumihanu
20
fumbili
21
fumbilithihi
22
fumbilimbili
50
fuhanu
100
ana
1000
gidi

Greetings

Good morning
Ndi matsheloni
Good afternoon
Ndi masiari
Good evening
Ndi madekwana
Good night
Lo kovhela

Days

Sunday
Swondaha
Monday
Musumbuluwo
Tuesday
Ḽavhuvhili
Wednesday
Ḽavhuraru
Thursday
Ḽavhuṋa
Friday
Ḽavhuṱanu
Saturday
Mugivhela

Months

January
Phando
February
Luhuhi
March
Ṱhafamuhwe
April
Lambamai
May
Shundunthule
June
Fulwi
July
Fulwana
August
Ṱhangule
September
Khubvumedzi
October
Tshimedzi
November
Ḽara
December
Nyendavhusiku

Colors

White
Tshena
Black
Ntsu
Purple
Phephulu
Green
Dala
Yellow
Tada
Red
Tswuku
Pink
Pinki

Part of the body

Head
Ṱhoho
Hair
Mavhudzi
Eyes
Maṱo
Nose
Ningo
Mouth
Mulomo
Lips
Meme
Teeth
Maṋo
Tongue
Lulimi
Shoulder
Shada
Elbow
Lukuḓavhavha
Hands
Zwanḓa
Neck
Mukulo
Chest
Khana
Ribs
Mbabvu
Stomach
Thumbu
Waist
Khundu
Back
Muṱana
Buttocks
Pfuralelo

Family (Muta)

Father
Khotsi
Mother
Mme
Sister
Khaladzi
Brother
Murathu
Grandfather
Makhulu (tshinna)
Grandmother
Makhuku (tshisadzi)
Uncle (paternal)
Khotsi muhulu
Uncle (maternal)
Malume
Aunt (paternal)
Makhadzi
Aunt (maternal)
Mmane
Cousin
Muzwala
Parents
Vhabebi
Child
Nwana
Children
Vhana

Learning more


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