Looking for practical Nuer to Venda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Venda-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Nuer 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.
Nhiar
Ndi matsheloni
Nyaak
Ndi a livhuwa
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Ndi matsheloni
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Ndi masiari
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Ndi madekwana
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Tshilidzi
Kɛ̈n
Vhuyani
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Dzina langa ndi John
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Ni khou itea?
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?(ni a thota n'wambo)
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
Nyaac ma nyin.
A ndi ḓivhi(a ndi dhiwi)
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Yin thok a kɛl?
Bani hu na khotani?(bani hu na khotani)
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Fhulu u ya shango(fhulu u ya shango)
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho(fhulu u ya thoho)
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho(dhi thota nga thoho)
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Fhasi i na hani?(fhasi i na hani)
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please(ticket ye la, nd please)
Yin ke nyin a thok?
I na fhasi u bva hone?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ndi a fhedza(ndi a fhedza)
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
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.
Aye
Ee
Naa
Aih
Nyaak
Ndi nga si
Nyeek a kech
Ndi a livhuwa
Nyeek a kech naa
Ndi a sa livhuwi
Iye kech kɛl
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Nyaak a kech?
U vhona mini?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
U nga nthusa?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Ndi na nyito
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Langa muthu
Nyeek a kech
Ndi a humbula
Naa a kech kɛl
A hu na nḓila
Aye kɛl
Ndi a livhuwa
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Uphi i-station ye-train?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Uphi i-bus stop?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
I-platform efani na?(Kel bet ket)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Iri ngafhi?(Kel wel it ket)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?(Kel it kel wel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Iri khathihi na.(Kel it kel kel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Iri khulwane na.(Kel it kel jol)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.(Kel jel kel pel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Zwi khou itea ngani?(nyaak chel)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Izwi ndi zwihulu.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Ndi muvegetarian.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Izi ndi zwitukwama.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Fhonelela mapolisa(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Fhonelela ambulanse(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Ndi funa ngaka(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Ndi a shota(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
Ndi na u shota kha phiri(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Ramba!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga(nyin = meet)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
A ri vhe na thendo
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.