A collection of useful phrases mainly in the Oshikwanyama dialect of Oshiwambo, a Bantu language spoken in parts of Namibia and Angola.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
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.
| Phrase | Oshiwambo |
|---|---|
| Welcome | |
| Hello (General greeting) | Halo Hello Ongiini?/ Onawa, ngiini? |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Ongeipi? Ongiini? Ou li nawa? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ondili nawa, ove? |
| Long time no see | Nde ku etha nale nee |
| What's your name? | Ovelye lye? |
| My name is ... | Edina lange aame ... |
| Where are you from? | Owa za peni? |
| I'm from ... | Onda za ... |
| Pleased to meet you | We ya po? |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Walelepo Owanangala po nawa? Owa lala po nawa? Mwa lala po? |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Wa uhala po? (sg) MWa uhala po? (pl) Owa uhala po nawa? |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Wa tokelwa po? (sg) Mwa tokelwa po? (pl) Owa tokelwa po nawa? |
| Good night | Nangalei po nawa Lalii po nawa |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Kala po nawa (sg) Kalii po nawa (pl) Likwata nawa (Take care) Enda po nawa (Go well) Oshi iwete (See you later) Ota ndi ku mono ngula (See you tomorrow) |
| 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 | Ee |
| No | Ahawe |
| Maybe | |
| I don't know | Nghi shi shi Kandi shi shi |
| Do you understand? | |
| I understand | |
| I don't understand | Kandi uditeko |
| Please speak more slowly | |
| Please say that again | Oto dulu okwee ndululula? |
| Please write it down | |
| Do you speak English? | Ohopopi oshinglisha? |
| Do you speak Oshiwambo? | Ohopopi oshiwambo? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ee, kashona Ee, kashona ashike |
| Do you speak a language other than Oshiwambo? |
|
| Speak to me in Oshiwambo | |
| How do you say ... in Oshiwambo? | |
| Excuse me | |
| How much is this? | Iingapi? Oshina iingapi? |
| Sorry | Ombili |
| Please | Arikana |
| Thank you | Tangi Tangi unene |
| Reply to thank you | Oshili nawa (It's alright) |
| 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 | Ondeku yuulukwa |
| I love you | Ondi ku hole |
| Get well soon | |
| Go away! | |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! | Kwathelandje! Kwathandje! |
| Fire! | |
| Stop! | |
| Call the police! | |
| Christmas greetings | |
| New Year greetings | |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | |
| Congratulations! | |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Hear some Oshiwambo phrases
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Oshiwambo | Phrases | Numbers
Other collections of Oshiwambo phrases
https://quizlet.com/83053042/oshiwambo-everyday-words-and-phrases-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/516702338/oshivambo-phrases-flash-cards/
Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, 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
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