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.

Pronunciation guide

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

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

Time

Clock time

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

Transportation

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

Food

Learning more

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