Looking for practical Ndau to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Ndau phrase first, then the Tetum translation (Tetum) — 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 Tetum.
Tip: read the Tetum line out loud three times, then cover the Ndau 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 Ndau to Tetum 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.
Mhoro
Olá
Ndatenda
Obrigadu
Mangwanani akanaka
Bondia
Masikati akanaka
Bona tarde
Manheru akanaka
Bona noite
Usiku hwakanaka
Bona noite
Tichasangana zvakare
Ami hanesan
Sara zvakanaka
Adeus
Zita rako ndiani?
Quale naran ida?
Zita rangu ndiJohn
Naran hau John.
Uri sei?
Kona ba o?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Keta fala Inglês?
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka.
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Handinzwisise.
Hau la hatene.
Ndapota taura zvishoma.
Favor fala ba moris.
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Keta bele fala fali?
Chimbuzi chiri kupi?
Onde mak banheira?
Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Pinda kuruboshwe.
Virar ba hadau.
Pinda kurudyi.
Virar ba direita.
Enda mberi.
Baa diretamente.
Mari yefare ingani?
Iha ne'e barak?
Tiketi imwe, ndapota.
Ticket ida, favor.
Iko kure kubva pano?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Ndakakanganiswa.
Hau nune'e.
Ndingatenga kupi SIM card?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Sim
Aih
La
Pangani
Talvez
Ndakubvumirana
Hau hakarak
Handibvumirani
Hau la hakarak
Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Nia mak diak
Unofungei?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Ungandibatsira here?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Hau precisa ajuda
Mirira nguva shoma
Hakarak momentu
Ndineurombo
Hau mós
Hapana dambudziko
La problema
Makorokoto
Parabens
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Parabens ba aniversario
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Ndeipi chikuva?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Ndeipi nguva inobva?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Iri pedyo pano
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Iri kure neapo
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura sei?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru
Esa mak baratu demais.(izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru)
Une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?(une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here)
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?(ndingabhadhara nekadhi here)
Ndinoda tafura yevasere
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.(ndinoda tafura yevasere)
Chikwereti, ndapota
Fatu, por favor.(chikwereti, ndapota)
Sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here?
Servisu iha ka?(sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here)
Ndiri vegetarian
Hau vegetarian.(ndiri vegetarian)
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Labele comida spicy, por favor.(hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota)
Izvi zvinonaka
Esa mak saboru.(izvi zvinonaka)
Ndingawana menyu here?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?(ndingawana menyu here)
Girazi remvura, ndapota
Kopa agua, por favor.(girazi remvura, ndapota)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dai foni mapurisa
Liga ba polícia
Dai foni amburensi
Liga ba ambulansia
Ndinoda chiremba
Hau precisa doutor
Ndiri kurwara
Hau sente sick
Ndine chiremera kumapudzi
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Hospitali iri kupi pedyo?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Zvinorwadza pano
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Ndakarasa pasipoti yangu
Hau hasai passport
Unogona here kufoniya hotera yangu?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Rubatsiro!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Ngatironge musangano
Kita halo reunião
Ndeipi nguva inokufambira?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Ndichatumira mushumo nhasi
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Tingataure mangwana here?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Ndapota tsvaga faira rakabatanidzwa
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Ungajekesa iyo pfungwa here?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Regai ndidzoke kwamuri
Hau sei volta ba ita
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.