Venda phrasebook

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

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

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

Good morning

Ndi matsheloni

Good afternoon

Ndi masiari

Good evening

Ndi madekwana

Good night

Lo kovhela

Sunday

Swondaha

Monday

Musumbuluwo

Tuesday

Ḽavhuvhili

Wednesday

Ḽavhuraru

Thursday

Ḽavhuṋa

Friday

Ḽavhuṱanu

Saturday

Mugivhela

January

Phando

February

Luhuhi

March

Ṱhafamuhwe

April

Lambamai

May

Shundunthule

June

Fulwi

July

Fulwana

August

Ṱhangule

September

Khubvumedzi

October

Tshimedzi

November

Ḽara

December

Nyendavhusiku

White

Tshena

Black

Ntsu

Purple

Phephulu

Green

Dala

Yellow

Tada

Red

Tswuku

Pink

Pinki

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

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