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Tshivenda overview

How to say hello, thank you and more in Tshivenda

25 essential Tshivenda phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.

Quick answers

Hello

Ndaa

/n-DAA/

Thank you

Ndo livhuwa

/n-doh lee-VHOO-wah/

Goodbye

Kha ri sale

/kha ree SAH-leh/

Yes

Ee

/EH-eh/

No

Hai

/HAH-ee/

Please

Nga khouvhona

/nga khoh-VHOH-na/

Welcome

Ni a tanganedzwa

/nee ah tan-ga-NEH-jwa/

Sorry

Ndi khou humbela pfarelo

/n-dee khoh hoom-BEH-la pfa-REH-loh/

How are you?

Vho vuwa hani?

/voh VOO-wa HA-nee/

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First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • 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/

Meeting people

Introduce yourself and ask how someone is

  • Ndi nnyi zwina lawe?What is your name?/n-dee n-NYEE zwee-na LA-weh/
  • Zwina langa ndi AmaraMy name is Amara/ZWEE-na LAN-ga n-dee a-MA-ra/
  • Vho vuwa hani?How are you?/voh VOO-wa HA-nee/
  • Ndi khou takalaI am fine/n-dee khoh ta-KA-la/
  • KhonaniFriend/kho-NA-nee/
  • MadiWater/MA-dee/
  • NnḓuHouse/n-DZOO/
  • ṄwanaChild/NWA-na/

Counting

Numbers and market basics

  • ThihiOne/thee-HEE/
  • MbiliTwo/m-BEE-lee/
  • RaruThree/RA-roo/
  • ṊaFour/NNAH/
  • ṰhanuFive/TAH-noo/
  • Ndi lini?How much is it?/n-dee LEE-nee/
  • MusikaMarket/moo-SEE-ka/
  • MadiWater/MA-dee/
  • TsheledeMoney/tsheh-LEH-deh/

Questions people ask about Tshivenda

How do you say "hello" in Tshivenda?

"Hello" in Tshivenda is Ndaa, pronounced /n-DAA/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "thank you" in Tshivenda?

"Thank you" in Tshivenda is Ndo livhuwa, pronounced /n-doh lee-VHOO-wah/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "how are you?" in Tshivenda?

"How are you?" in Tshivenda is Vho vuwa hani?, pronounced /voh VOO-wa HA-nee/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

Is Tshivenda hard to learn?

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

Where is Tshivenda spoken?

Limpopo, South Africa, and southern Zimbabwe — around 1.5 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet with underlined letters (ṱ, ḓ, ṅ, ḽ).

Can I learn Tshivenda for free?

Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.

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