A collection of useful phrases in Venda (Tshivenḓa), a Bantu language spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe
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: m = said by males, f = said by females
| Phrase | Tshivenḓa (Venda) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ndaa (m) Aa (f) |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Vho vuwa hani? Hu ita hani? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ndo vuwa. Vhone? Nṋe ndo takala vhukuma. Vhone? |
| Long time no see | |
| What's your name? | Dzina lavho ndi nnyi? |
| My name is ... | Dzina langa ndi ... |
| Where are you from? | Ni bva gai? Vha bva ngfhi? |
| I'm from ... | Ndi bva ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndo takala ro divhana |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Ndi matsheloni Ndi matsheloni avhudi (reply) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Ndi masiari Ndi masiari avhudi (reply) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Ndi madekwana Ndi madekwana avhudi (reply) |
| Good night | Lo kovhela Ni edele zwavhudi |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Kha vha sale (to person staying) Vha tshimbile zwavhudi (to person leaving) |
| Good luck! | Mashudu mavhuya |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | Vha vhe na duvha lavhudi |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Vha vhe na lwendo lwavhuḓi |
| Yes | Ee |
| No | Hai |
| Maybe | |
| I don't know | A thi divhi |
| I understand | Ndi a pfesesa |
| 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 Tshivenḓa naa? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
|
| Speak to me in Venda | |
| How do you say ... in Venda? | Hi pfi ... ndi mini nga Tshivenḓa |
| Excuse me | Tshiimo tsha shishi |
| I would like ... | Ndi humbela ... Ndi khou humbela ... |
| How much is this? | Zwi ita vhugai? Izwi zwi dura vhugai? |
| Sorry | Ndi khou humbela pfarelo |
| Please | Ndi khou tou humbela |
| Thank you | Ndo livhuwa Ro livhuwa Ndo livhuwa nga maanda |
| Reply to thank you | No tanganedziwa |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | |
| This lady will pay for everything | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | |
| I miss you | |
| I love you | Ndi a ni funa |
| Get well soon | |
| Go away! | |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! | Thuso! |
| Fire! | |
| Stop! | |
| Call the police! | Ndi humbela uri vha founele mapholisa! |
| Christmas greetings | Ḓuvha ḽa mabebo a Murena ḽavhuḓi Ni vhe na nwaha wavhuḓi (Season's Greetings) |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Corrections by Tshilidzi Nekhavhambe
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Venda | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Venda phrases
Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Ngoni, Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
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