Useful phrases in Herero

A collection of useful phrases in Herero (Otjiherero), a Bantu language spoken in Namibia, Bostwana and Angola.

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

Phrase	Otjiherero (Herero)
Welcome	Wayakurua
Hello (General greeting)	Tjike? Koree?
Hello (on phone)
How are you?	U ri nawa?
Reply to 'How are you?'	Ii, mbi ri nawa. Korove? Mbi ri nawa. Korove?
Long time no see	Atata twa haṋika orure
What's your name?	Ena roye oove ani? Oove uṋe ena roye?
My name is ...	Ena randje owami ...
Where are you from?	Ove wa za pi?
I'm from ...	Ami mba za ...
Pleased to meet you	Onawa tjinene tji twa hakaene
Good morning (Morning greeting)	Wa penduka Wa penduka nawa? (sg) Mwa penduka nawa (pl)
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	Wa uhara Wa uhara nawa? (sg) Mwa uhara nawa (pl)
Good evening (Evening greeting)	Wa tokerwa Wa tokerwa nawa? (sg) Mwa tokerwa nawa (pl)
Good night	Tokerwa nawa (early evening) - sg Tokerwee nawa (early evening) - pl Rara nawa (late evening) - sg Raree nawa (late evening) - pl
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Kara nawa (sg) Kara nawee (pl)
Good luck!
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal
Bon voyage / Have a good journey
Yes
No
Maybe
I don't know
Do you understand?
I understand
I don't understand
Please speak more slowly
Please say that again
Please write it down
Do you speak English?
Do you speak Herero?	U hungira OtjiHerero?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')	Kaṱiṱi uriri
Do you speak a language other than Herero?
Speak to me in Herero
How do you say ... in Herero?
Excuse me
How much is this?
Sorry
Please
Thank you	Okuhepa Ndangi
Reply to thank you	Okuhepa Ndangi
Where's the toilet / bathroom?
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?
Do you come here often?
I miss you
I love you
Get well soon
Go away!
Leave me alone!
Help!
Fire!
Stop!
Call the police!
Christmas greetings
New Year greetings
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings	Zokomurungu nga ze rire zongambwi nozo tjiyangapara (Many happy returns) Yoroka meyuva roye rongwatero (Be joyful on your birthday)
Congratulations!
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Herero | Phrases | Numbers

Links

Other collections of Herero phrases
http://www.namtranslations.iway.na/page nine common expressions/otjiherero_page9.pdf

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Phrases in other languages

[top]

Why not share this page:

If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.

Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.

Get a 30-day Free Trial of Amazon Prime (UK)

If you're looking for home or car insurance in the UK, why not try Policy Expert?

[top]