Looking for practical Afar to Venda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Venda translation (Venda) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Venda.
Tip: read the Venda line out loud three times, then cover the Afar side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Venda translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Nagaad
Ndi matsheloni(nagaad)
Galatooma
Ndi a livhuwa(galatooma)
Bariis
Ndi matsheloni(bariis)
Galab
Ndi masiari(galab)
Haal
Ndi madekwana(haal)
Haalka habeen
Ndi masiari a u fhela(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Tshilidzi(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Vhuyani(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Ndi mini dzina lenu?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Dzina langa ndi John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Ni khou itea?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?(ni a thota n'wambo)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
Ani hinfahmi
A ndi ḓivhi(a ndi dhiwi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Maahaa inna marra?
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Maalin baadhu?
Bani hu na khotani?(bani hu na khotani)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Boodha kaaf
Fhulu u ya shango(fhulu u ya shango)
Boodha mirga
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho(fhulu u ya thoho)
Si qodhi
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho(dhi thota nga thoho)
Maalin abaal?
Fhasi i na hani?(fhasi i na hani)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please(ticket ye la, nd please)
Maalin faga?
I na fhasi u bva hone?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ani dhumtu
Ndi a fhedza(ndi a fhedza)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?(ndi nga wana SIM card phi)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Ee(ee-yee)
Maya
Aih(mah-yah)
Gara
Ndi nga si(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Ndi a livhuwa(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Ndi a sa livhuwi(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
U vhona mini?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
U nga nthusa?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Ndi na nyito(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Langa muthu(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Ndi a humbula(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
A hu na nḓila(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Ndi a livhuwa(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Uphi i-station ye-train?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Uphi i-bus stop?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
I-platform efani na?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Iri ngafhi?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Iri khathihi na.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Iri khulwane na.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Zwi khou itea ngani?(iyayka mi'aa)
Iyayka xayl
Izwi ndi zwihulu.(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)
Xisaab, fadlan
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.(xisaab, fadlan)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?(adeegku ma ku jira)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
Ndi muvegetarian.(anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.(cunto kulul ma jirto)
Tani waa macaan
Izi ndi zwitukwama.(tani waa macaan)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?(mi'ayka liiska)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.(dharbaaxda biyo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Fhonelela mapolisa(Call the police)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Fhonelela ambulanse(Call an ambulance)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
Ndi funa ngaka
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
Ndi a shota
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
Ndi na u shota kha phiri
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu
Hoteela koo waaqa?
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?
Gargaarsa!
Ramba!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga(na-gaad waa-yi)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
A ri vhe na thendo(na-gaad kaa-bir-na waa-yi)
Waqti mee waayi?
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?(waq-ti mee waa-yi)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani(war-qad kaan di-ra-ya har-ra)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?(maan-ta waa-yi ha-dal-naa)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho(fayl-ka ku li-faa-qan fad-lan)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo(ma-had-sa-nid waq-ti-ga-a-ga)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi(wax-aan ra-jeen-yaa-in aan la sha-qee-yo)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?(ma ca-dayn kar-taa dhi-bi-cda-as)
Iga raadi dib
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi(i-ga raa-di dib)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe(waq-ti-ga ka-ma dam-bay-sta waa jim-co)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.