Tshivenda dictionary
Tshivenda words and phrases
119 Tshivenda words and phrases with their English meanings, from the Tshivenda Daily course. Remember: men greet with Ndaa! and women greet with Aa!
Places & things in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| bugu | book |
| luambo | language |
| nnḓu | house |
| tshelede | money |
| tshikolo | school |
Time in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| ḓuvha | day / sun |
| Ḽavhuṋa | Thursday |
| Ḽavhuraru | Wednesday |
| Ḽavhuṱanu | Friday |
| Ḽavhuvhili | Tuesday |
| matshelo | tomorrow |
| Mugivhela | Saturday |
| mulovha | yesterday |
| Musumbuluwo | Monday |
| ṋamusi | today |
| ṅwaha | year |
| ṅwedzi | month / moon |
| Swondaha | Sunday |
| vhege | week |
| zwino | now |
People in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| dzina | name |
| mudededzi | teacher |
| munna | man |
| musadzi | woman |
Greetings in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| Dzina langa ndi … | My name is … |
| Dzina lavho ndi nnyi? | What is your name? (respectful) |
| Ee | Yes |
| Hai | No |
| Kha vha sale zwavhuḓi | Goodbye (to the person staying) |
| Kha vha tshimbile zwavhuḓi | Goodbye (to the person leaving) |
| Ndi a livhuwa | Thank you |
| Ndi bva … | I come from … |
| Ndi dzula … | I live in … |
| Ndo vuwa zwavhuḓi | I woke up well |
| Vho vuwa hani? | Good morning (lit. how did you wake up?) |
Numbers in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| fumi | ten |
| iṋa | four |
| malo | eight |
| mbili | two |
| nthihi | one |
| rathi | six |
| sumbe | seven |
| tahe | nine |
| ṱhanu | five |
| tharu | three |
Family in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| khaladzi | sibling of the opposite sex |
| khotsi | father |
| makhulu | grandparent / grandmother |
| mme | mother |
| murathu | younger sibling |
| muṱa | family / household |
| ṅwana | child |
Nature & animals in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| kholomo | cow |
| khuhu | chicken |
| mbudzi | goat |
| mmbwa | dog |
| muri | tree |
| mvula | rain |
Food in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| khovhe | fish |
| muroho | vegetables / greens |
| nama | meat |
| Ndi na nḓala | I am hungry |
| u ḽa | to eat |
| u nwa | to drink |
| vhuswa | pap (maize porridge) |
Questions in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| lini? | when? |
| mini? | what? |
| ngafhi? | where? |
| ngani? | why? |
| nnyi? | who? |
Body in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| maṱo | eyes |
| mulenzhe | leg |
| mulomo | mouth |
| ṱhoho | head |
| tshanḓa | hand |
Phrases in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| Ndi a ni funa | I love you |
| vhukuma | really / truly |
| Zwi amba mini? | What does it mean? |
Verbs in Tshivenda
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| u bika | to cook |
| u ḓa | to come |
| u eḓela | to sleep |
| u funa | to love / to like |
| u funza | to teach |
| u gidima | to run |
| u guda | to learn |
| u ita | to do |
| u pfa | to hear / to feel |
| u shuma | to work |
| u thusa | to help |
| u ṱoḓa | to want / to look for |
| u vhona | to see |
| u ya | to go |
Sentences from the book
| Tshivenda | English |
|---|---|
| A thi zwi pfesesi. | I do not understand it. |
| Aa! | Hello — the respectful greeting said by a woman. |
| maḓi | water |
| Mmbwa dzi khou gidima. | The dogs are running. |
| Mmbwa i khou gidima. | The dog is running. |
| Munna u khou gidima. | The man is running. |
| muthu | person |
| Muthu u khou ya. | The person is going. (Use as a pattern; verify the full phrase in context.) |
| Ndaa! | Hello — the respectful greeting said by a man. |
| Ndaa! / Aa! | Hello! (said by a man) / Hello! (said by a woman) |
| Ndi a zwi pfesesa. | I understand it. |
| Ndi khou guda Tshivenda. | I am learning Tshivenda. |
| Ndi khou guda u amba Tshivenda. | I am learning to speak Tshivenda. |
| Ndi khou nwa maḓi. | I am drinking water. |
| Ndi khou ya u ḽa. | I am going to eat. |
| Ndi matsheloni. | Good morning. Practise as a complete greeting, not as a guessed English sound sequence. |
| Ndi mini? | What is it? (Confirm natural use in the specific context.) |
| Ndo takala u ni vhona. | I am glad to see you. |
| Ni khou ita mini? | What are you doing? |
| Ni khou mpfa? | Do you hear/understand me? Context helps determine the intended sense. |
| Pfarelo. | Excuse me / sorry. |
| Ri do vhonana. | We will see each other. |
| tshikolo / zwikolo | school / schools |
| Tshivenda | the Tshivenda language |
| Vhasadzi vha khou tshimbila. | The women are walking. |
| vhathu | people |
| Vhathu vha khou tshimbila. | The people are walking. |
Learn to use these words
Words are easier to remember in sentences. The free Tshivenda Daily course teaches them step by step, with quizzes and practice games.