Venda also known as Tshivenda is a language spoken by the people of Venda who resides in Northern region of South Africa such as Limpopo and Lemba provinces. The dialect is also spoken by people in Zimbabwe.
Pronunciation guide
Phrase list
Basics
; 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
Problem/Emergency
; Help! : Thuso! ; Call the police! : Ndi humbela uri vha founele mapholisa!
Numbers
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
Time
Clock time
Greetings
; Good morning : Ndi matsheloni ; Good afternoon : Ndi masiari ; Good evening : Ndi madekwana ; Good night : Lo kovhela
Days
; Sunday : Swondaha ; Monday : Musumbuluwo ; Tuesday : Ḽavhuvhili ; Wednesday : Ḽavhuraru ; Thursday : Ḽavhuṋa ; Friday : Ḽavhuṱanu ; Saturday : Mugivhela
Months
; January : Phando ; February : Luhuhi ; March : Ṱhafamuhwe ; April : Lambamai ; May : Shundunthule ; June : Fulwi ; July : Fulwana ; August : Ṱhangule ; September : Khubvumedzi ; October : Tshimedzi ; November : Ḽara ; December : Nyendavhusiku
Colors
; White : Tshena ; Black : Ntsu ; Purple : Phephulu ; Green : Dala ; Yellow : Tada ; Red : Tswuku ; Pink : Pinki
Transportation
Part of the body
; 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
Family (Muta)
; 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