Learn Tshivenda

Where it's spoken

Limpopo, South Africa, and southern Zimbabwe

Speakers

around 1.5 million

Writing system

Latin alphabet with underlined letters (ṱ, ḓ, ṅ, ḽ)

Tshivenda is a South African official language with fewer speakers than its neighbours, so learner material is genuinely scarce.

What makes Tshivenda different

• Underlined consonants are made with the tongue behind the teeth.
• Tone is meaningful.
• Distinct from both Nguni and Sotho–Tswana languages.

Your first Tshivenda phrases

Each phrase is written the way it's spelled, then respelled for English speakers with the stressed syllable in capitals.

• NdaaHello/n-DAA/
• Ndo livhuwaThank you/n-doh lee-VHOO-wah/
• Nga khouvhonaPlease/nga khoh-VHOH-na/
• Kha ri saleGoodbye/kha ree SAH-leh/
• EeYes/EH-eh/
• HaiNo/HAH-ee/
• Ndi khou humbela pfareloSorry/n-dee khoh hoom-BEH-la pfa-REH-loh/
• Ni a tanganedzwaWelcome/nee ah tan-ga-NEH-jwa/

Want the full list? Read the free Tshivenda phrasebook with pronunciation, grab the free printable Tshivenda starter kit, or compare SemaSoma with other African language apps.