Looking for practical Tsonga to Fon phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga phrase first, then the Fon translation (Fon) — 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 Fon.
Tip: when a Fon phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Tsonga 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 Tsonga to Fon 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.
Xewani
Nɔ́(nɔ́)
Ndza khensa
Mèdɔ́(mèdɔ́)
Xewani xitulu
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Xewani ntlhanu
Mèdɔ́ ɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Xewani nhloko
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Xewani xihlayo
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Tshamisa
Nɔ́ wɛ(nɔ́ wɛ)
Sala kahle
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
U vitaniwani?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Ndzina i John
Mè nɔ́ John(mè nɔ́ John)
U njhani?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
A ndzi twisisi.
Mè n'kó nù.
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Xikombiso xihi?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Tò n'kà kè.
Khandziya ekunene.
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Lè n'kà kè.
Mafambiselo ma yini?
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
I yini ku tlula kona?
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Ndzi khomiwe.
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Ɛ(e)
A hi kona
Ayi(ayi)
Swi nga va tano
Mɛ(me)
Ndzi amukela
Mè yé(me ye)
Ndzi nga amukeli
Mè n'yi(me n'yi)
Iku na switlhavelo
N'kɔ nɔ(n'ko no)
U ehleketa yini?
N'kɔ a kɔ?(n'ko a ko)
U nga ndzi pfuna?
I n'kɔ mɛ?(i n'ko me)
Ndzi lava mpfuno
Mè n'kɔ mɛ(me n'ko me)
Hlayisa nkarhi
Tɔ́ nɔ(to no)
Ndzi tsundzuka
Mè nɔ n'kɔ(me no n'ko)
A hi na xiphiqo
Ayi n'kɔ(ayi n'ko)
Ndzakuva
Mè nɔ wé(me no we)
Mavongele yo tsakela
Mè nɔ tɔ́(me no to)
U va na ndlela yo olova
N'kɔ a wé dɔ(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
N'ye wé train station?(N'ye wé train station?)
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
N'ye wé bus stop?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
I platform yihi?
Ké platform na?(Ké platform na?)
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
I ndlela leyi nga right?
N'ye wé yé na?(N'ye wé yé na?)
I kona edzongeni.
Yé na hɛn(Yé na hɛn)
I le n'hweti.
Yé na hɛn gbo(Yé na hɛn gbo)
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ku humelela njhani?
Mè wé na?(i ku humelela njhani?)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Sè wé bɔ́?
Ndza va vegetarian.
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
Leswi i switlhavi.
Yè wé sɔ́.
Ndzaku na menu?
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.