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Common Venda Phrases
Essential Venda (Tshivenḓa) phrases with pronunciation guides.
👋Greetings & Basics
| English | Venda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Ndaa | NDAA |
| Good morning | Ndi matsheloni | ndi mat-she-LO-ni |
| Good afternoon | Ndi masiari | ndi ma-SI-a-ri |
| Good evening | Ndi madekwana | ndi ma-dek-WA-na |
| Goodbye | Salani zwavhudi | sa-LA-ni zwa-VHU-di |
| See you later | Ri dovha ri vhone | ri DO-vha ri VHO-ne |
| How are you? | Vho vuwa hani? | vho VU-wa HA-ni |
| I am fine | Ndo vuwa zwavhudi | ndo VU-wa zwa-VHU-di |
| Thank you | Ndo livhuwa | ndo liv-HU-wa |
| Please | Ndi khou humbela | ndi khou hum-BE-la |
| Sorry | Ndi khou humbela pfarelo | ndi khou hum-BE-la pfa-RE-lo |
| Yes | Ee | ee |
| No | Hai | hai |
| My name is | Dzina langa ndi | DZI-na LA-nga ndi |
| Nice to meet you | Ndi fara vhudi u vhona | ndi FA-ra VHU-di u VHO-na |
| Do you speak English? | Vho amba Tshiingilisi? | vho AM-ba tshi-in-gi-LI-si |
| I don't understand | A ndi pfesesi | a ndi pfe-SE-si |
| Welcome | Welkome | WEL-ko-me |
| Good night | Lalani zwavhudi | la-LA-ni zwa-VHU-di |
| Cheers | Ndi zwavhudi | ndi zwa-VHU-di |
✈️Travel
| English | Venda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the hotel? | Hotel i ngafhi? | HO-tel i NGA-fhi |
| I need a taxi | Ndi toda tekisi | ndi TO-da te-KI-si |
| How much does it cost? | Zwi vha malini? | zwi vha ma-LI-ni |
| Airport | Tshikhala tsha ndege | tshi-KHA-la tsha NDE-ge |
| Train station | Sitshini ya siteimara | si-TSH-i-ni ya si-tei-MA-ra |
| Bus stop | Nḓila ya basi | NDI-la ya BA-si |
| Where is the bathroom? | Tshindoni i ngafhi? | tshi-NDO-ni i NGA-fhi |
| I am lost | Ndi fhunzekele | ndi fhun-ze-KE-le |
| Help me please | Nditshidze ndi humbela | ndi-TSHID-ze ndi hum-BE-la |
| Turn left | Phekelela khagala | phe-ke-LE-la kha-GA-la |
| Turn right | Phekelela thumboni | phe-ke-LE-la thum-BO-ni |
| Straight ahead | Khou ya phanḓa | khou ya PHAN-da |
| Near | Tsini | TSI-ni |
| Far | Kule | KU-le |
| Passport | Pasipoto | pa-si-PO-to |
| Ticket | Tikiti | ti-KI-ti |
| Hotel | Hotel | HO-tel |
| Hospital | Hospitala | hos-pi-TA-la |
| Police | Mapholisa | ma-pho-LI-sa |
| Map | Mephu | ME-phu |
🍽️Food & Dining
| English | Venda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I am hungry | Ndi na nzara | ndi na NZA-ra |
| I am thirsty | Ndi na ludzu | ndi na LU-dzu |
| Water | Maḓi | MA-di |
| Food | Zwiliwa | zwi-LI-wa |
| Bread | Vhurotho | vhu-RO-tho |
| Rice | Rayisi | ra-YI-si |
| Meat | Nyama | NYA-ma |
| Chicken | Khoho | KHO-ho |
| Fish | Dzi nḓevhe | dzi NDZ-e-vhe |
| Vegetables | Miroho | mi-RO-ho |
| Fruit | Zwiṋaṋa | zwi-NA-na |
| Coffee | Kofi | KO-fi |
| Tea | Tii | tii |
| Beer | Biya | BI-ya |
| The bill please | Bili ndi humbela | BI-li ndi hum-BE-la |
| Delicious | Zwi fana | zwi FA-na |
| Restaurant | Resitoranti | re-si-to-RAN-ti |
| Menu | Menyu | ME-nyu |
| Salt | Munyu | MU-nyu |
| Spicy | Zwi tsha | zwi TSH-a |
🚨Emergency
| English | Venda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Nditshidze! | ndi-TSHID-ze |
| Call the police | Fona mapholisa | FO-na ma-pho-LI-sa |
| I need a doctor | Ndi toda dọkotela | ndi TO-da do-ko-TE-la |
| Fire! | Mulilo! | mu-LI-lo |
| Thief! | Mbavha! | MBA-vha |
| I am sick | Ndi lwala | ndi LWA-la |
| I am injured | Ndi vhavhiwa | ndi vha-VHI-wa |
| Emergency | Matukulu | ma-tu-KU-lu |
| Hospital | Hospitala | hos-pi-TA-la |
| Ambulance | Ambulensi | am-bu-LEN-si |
| I am lost | Ndi fhunzekele | ndi fhun-ze-KE-le |
| Danger | Tshenzhelo | tshen-ZHE-lo |
| Stop! | Ima! | I-ma |
| Go away! | Bva fhano! | BVA FHA-no |
💼Business
| English | Venda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting | Musangano | mu-san-GA-no |
| Office | Ofisi | o-FI-si |
| Manager | Maneja | ma-NE-ja |
| Contract | Kontraka | kon-TRA-ka |
| Payment | Mutendo | mu-TEN-do |
| Invoice | Invoyisi | in-vo-YI-si |
| Bank | Bhanki | BHAN-ki |
| Price | Thengo | THEN-go |
| Company | Khampani | kham-PA-ni |
| Imeyili | i-me-YI-li | |
| Phone | Foni | FO-ni |
| Please call me | Ndi humbela u nthonifona | ndi hum-BE-la u ntho-ni-FO-na |
| Thank you for your time | Ndo livhuwa tshifhinga tshaṋu | ndo liv-HU-wa tshi-FHIN-ga tsha-NU |
| I agree | Ndi takuwa | ndi ta-KU-wa |
🔢Numbers & Time
| English | Venda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One | Ḓe | de |
| Two | Mbili | MBI-li |
| Three | Raru | RA-ru |
| Four | Ṋa | na |
| Five | Thanu | THA-nu |
| Six | Tshitanu na ḓe | tshi-TA-nu na de |
| Seven | Tshitanu na mbili | tshi-TA-nu na MBI-li |
| Eight | Tshitanu na raru | tshi-TA-nu na RA-ru |
| Nine | Tshitanu na ṋa | tshi-TA-nu na na |
| Ten | Fumi | FU-mi |
| Twenty | Mirongo mivhili | mi-RON-go mi-VHI-li |
| Hundred | Ḓana | DA-na |
| Thousand | Gidi | GI-di |
| What time is it? | Awa ndi nnyi? | A-wa ndi NNY-i |
| Today | Namusi | na-MU-si |
| Tomorrow | Mangana | man-GA-na |
| Yesterday | Maḓuvha a ṱavhannyi | ma-DU-vha a ta-VHA-nnyi |
| Monday | Musumbuluwo | mu-sum-bu-LU-wo |
| Friday | Ḽassistere | lha-sis-TE-re |
| Weekend | Vhusiku vha vhege | vhu-SI-ku vha VHE-ge |
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