Venda phrasebook

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.

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

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

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