Useful phrases in Venda

A collection of useful phrases in Venda (Tshivenḓa), a Bantu language spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe

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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

Links

Other collections of Venda phrases

Phrases in Bantu languages

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

Phrases in other languages

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