Tshivenḓa: phrases, voice typing and the special letters

Ndaa

Hello (said by a man)

Men greet and answer with Ndaa; often said while kneeling or bowing slightly to elders.

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Aa

Hello (said by a woman)

Women greet and answer with Aa.

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Ndi matsheloni

Good morning

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Ndi matsheloni avhuḓi

Good morning (reply)

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Ndi masiari

Good afternoon

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi madekwana

Good evening

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vho vuwa hani?

How did you wake up? / How are you?

Respectful morning greeting.

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Ndo vuwa

I woke up well

Reply to Vho vuwa hani?

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Vhone?

And you? (respectful)

Returns the question politely.

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Nṋe ndo takala vhukuma

I am very well

Literally "I am very happy".

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

Vho ḓi farisa hani?

How are you? (respectful, later in the day)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou ḓi farela

I'm fine

Reply to Vho ḓi farisa hani?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kha vha sale zwavhuḓi

Goodbye (stay well, respectful)

Said by the person who is leaving.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kha vha tshimbile zwavhuḓi

Goodbye (go well, respectful)

Said by the person who stays.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Sala zwavhuḓi

Goodbye (stay well)

Informal, to a friend or child.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tshimbila zwavhuḓi

Goodbye (go well)

Informal, to a friend or child.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ri ḓo vhonana

See you later

Literally "we will see each other".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ri ḓo vhonana matshelo

See you tomorrow

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kha vha dzhene

Come in (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo livhuwa

Thank you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi a livhuwa

Thank you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo livhuwa nga maanḓa

Thank you very much

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ri a livhuwa

We thank you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou humbela

Please

Literally "I am asking".

Source: common usage, needs native check

A hu na thaidzo

No problem

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dzina ḽanga ndi ...

My name is ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dzina ḽavho ndi nnyi?

What is your name? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha bva ngafhi?

Where are you from? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi bva ...

I come from ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha dzula ngafhi?

Where do you live? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi dzula ...

I live in ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo takala u vha ḓivha

I'm pleased to meet you (respectful)

Literally "I am happy to know you".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha a amba Tshivenḓa?

Do you speak Tshivenḓa? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha a amba Luisimane?

Do you speak English? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou guda Tshivenḓa

I'm learning Tshivenḓa

Source: common usage, needs native check

Uyu ndi khonani yanga

This is my friend

Source: common usage, needs native check

Uyu ndi mme anga

This is my mother

Source: common usage, needs native check

Uyu ndi khotsi anga

This is my father

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ee

Yes

Source: common usage, needs native check

Hai

No

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi a pfesesa

I understand

Source: common usage, needs native check

A thi pfesesi

I don't understand

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi a ḓivha

I know

Source: common usage, needs native check

A thi ḓivhi

I don't know

Source: common usage, needs native check

Pfarelo

Sorry / excuse me

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha khou ṱoḓa mini?

What do you want? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou ṱoḓa ...

I want ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi mini?

What is it?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi nnyi?

Who is it?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ngani?

Why?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Lini?

When?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ngafhi?

Where?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Hani?

How?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Iḓa fhano

Come here

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dzula fhasi

Sit down

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi ngoho

It's true

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo neta

I'm tired

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo takala

I'm happy

Source: common usage, needs native check

Zwo luga

It's fine / alright

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou ḓa

I'm coming

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou ya ...

I'm going to ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha khou ya ngafhi?

Where are you going? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi ṱoḓa u ya ḓoroboni

I want to go to town

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ima hafha

Stop here

Said to a taxi driver.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo swika

I've arrived

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ro swika

We've arrived

Source: common usage, needs native check

Lwendo lwavhuḓi!

Have a good trip!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vhengele ḽi ngafhi?

Where is the shop?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tshikolo tshi ngafhi?

Where is the school?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kereke i ngafhi?

Where is the church?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Hu tsini

It's near

Source: common usage, needs native check

Hu kule

It's far

Source: common usage, needs native check

Hu kule nga maanḓa

It's very far

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo xela

I'm lost

Source: common usage, needs native check

Phanḓa

In front / ahead

Source: common usage, needs native check

Murahu

Behind

Source: common usage, needs native check

Zwi ita vhugai?

How much is it?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi ṱoḓa u renga ...

I want to buy ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Zwi a ḓura

It's expensive

Source: common usage, needs native check

Zwi a ḓura nga maanḓa

It's too expensive

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha na vhurotho?

Do you have bread? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi na nzhala

I'm hungry

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi na ḓora

I'm thirsty

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndo fura

I'm full

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi humbela maḓi

Water, please

Literally "I ask for water".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi humbela tie

Tea, please

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kha ri ḽe

Let's eat

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha ṱoḓa u ḽa mini?

What do you want to eat? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi ṱoḓa vhuswa na nama

I want porridge and meat

Vhuswa is stiff maize porridge (pap).

Source: common usage, needs native check

A thi ḽi nama

I don't eat meat

Source: common usage, needs native check

thihi

one

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

mbili

two

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

raru

three

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

iṋa

four

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

ṱhanu

five

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

rathi

six

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

sumbe

seven

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

malo

eight

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

ṱahe

nine

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

fumi

ten

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

fumbili

twenty

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

ḓana

one hundred

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

gidi

one thousand

Source: Omniglot, Venda phrases and Venda numbers pages

ṋamusi

today

Source: common usage, needs native check

matshelo

tomorrow; also morning

Source: common usage, needs native check

mulovha

yesterday

Source: common usage, needs native check

zwino

now

Source: common usage, needs native check

nga matsheloni

in the morning

Source: common usage, needs native check

nga masiari

in the afternoon

Source: common usage, needs native check

nga madekwana

in the evening

Source: common usage, needs native check

vhusiku

at night

Source: common usage, needs native check

Swondaha

Sunday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Musumbuluwo

Monday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ḽavhuvhili

Tuesday

Literally "the second (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ḽavhuraru

Wednesday

Literally "the third (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ḽavhuṋa

Thursday

Literally "the fourth (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ḽavhuṱanu

Friday

Literally "the fifth (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Mugivhela

Saturday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Phando

January

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Luhuhi

February

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ṱhafamuhwe

March

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Lambamai

April

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Shundunthule

May

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Fulwi

June

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Fulwana

July

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ṱhangule

August

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Khubvumedzi

September

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Tshimedzi

October

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Ḽara

November

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

Nyendavhusiku

December

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Tshivenḓa

muṱa wanga

my family

Source: common usage, needs native check

khotsi anga

my father

Source: common usage, needs native check

mme anga

my mother

Source: common usage, needs native check

ṅwana wanga

my child

Source: common usage, needs native check

vhana vhanga

my children

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha na vhana?

Do you have children? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi a ni funa

I love you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi a ni funa nga maanḓa

I love you very much

Source: common usage, needs native check

Mbilu yanga

My heart

Term of endearment.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha shuma ngafhi?

Where do you work? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi shuma ...

I work at ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi khou ṱoḓa mushumo

I'm looking for work

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi nga vha thusa?

Can I help you? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi a lwala

I'm sick

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi ṱoḓa dokotela

I need a doctor

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ndi ṱoḓa mushonga

I need medicine

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vha ḓipfa hani?

How do you feel? (respectful)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Thusani!

Help!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Mulilo!

Fire!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Vhidzani mapholisa!

Call the police!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kha vha awele nga mulalo

Rest in peace

Mulalo means peace.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Mudzimu a ni khwaṱhise

May God strengthen you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Mudzimu a ni fhaṱutshedze

God bless you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kha ri rabele

Let us pray

Source: common usage, needs native check

Amen

Amen

Source: common usage, needs native check

Khisimusi yavhuḓi!

Merry Christmas!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ṅwaha muswa wavhuḓi!

Happy New Year!

Source: common usage, needs native check