Looking for practical Shona to Venda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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: when a Venda phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Shona wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona 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.
Mhoro
Ndi matsheloni
Ndatenda
Ndi a livhuwa
Mangwanani akanaka
Ndi matsheloni
Masikati akanaka
Ndi masiari
Manheru akanaka
Ndi madekwana
Usiku hwakanaka
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Tichasangana gare gare
Tshilidzi
Sara zvakanaka
Vhuyani
Zita rako ndiani?
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Zita rangu ndiri John
Dzina langa ndi John
Uri sei?
Ni khou itea?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?(ni a thota n'wambo)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
Handinzwisisi
A ndi ḓivhi(a ndi dhiwi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Bani hu na khotani?(bani hu na khotani)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Fhulu u ya shango(fhulu u ya shango)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho(fhulu u ya thoho)
Enda mberi
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho(dhi thota nga thoho)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Fhasi i na hani?(fhasi i na hani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please(ticket ye la, nd please)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
I na fhasi u bva hone?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ndakakanganiswa
Ndi a fhedza(ndi a fhedza)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
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.
Ehe
Ee
Kwete
Aih
Pangove
Ndi nga si
Ndinobvumirana
Ndi a livhuwa
Handibvumirane
Ndi a sa livhuwi
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Unofungei?
U vhona mini?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
U nga nthusa?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Ndi na nyito
Mirira kwechinguva
Langa muthu
Ndine urombo
Ndi a humbula
Hapana chakaipa
A hu na nḓila
Makorokoto
Ndi a livhuwa
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Uphi i-station ye-train?(Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Uphi i-bus stop?(Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
I-platform efani na?(Ndeipi puratifomu?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Iri ngafhi?(Inobva nenguva ipi?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?(Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)
Iri pedyo pano
Iri khathihi na.(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
Iri khulwane na.(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?(Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.(Mira pano, ndapota)