Looking for practical Tsonga to Jamaican Patois phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga phrase first, then the Jamaican Patois translation (Jamaican Patois) — 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 Jamaican Patois.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Jamaican Patois-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tsonga to Jamaican Patois 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
Wah gwaan
Ndza khensa
Tank yuh
Xewani xitulu
Gud mawnin
Xewani ntlhanu
Gud afta noon
Xewani nhloko
Gud evnin
Xewani xihlayo
Gud nite
Tshamisa
Likkle more
Sala kahle
Lata
U vitaniwani?
Wah yuh name?
Ndzina i John
Mi name a John
U njhani?
Ow yuh do?
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Nice fi meet yuh
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
Yuh speak English?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
Mi nuh speak Hindi good
A ndzi twisisi.
Mi nuh understand
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
Please talk slow
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
Yuh can seh dat again?
Xikombiso xihi?
Whe di bathroom deh?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
How mi fi get to di city center?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Turn left
Khandziya ekunene.
Turn right
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Go straight
Mafambiselo ma yini?
How much fi di fare?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
One ticket, please
I yini ku tlula kona?
Is it far from yah?
Ndzi khomiwe.
Mi lost
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
Whe mi can buy a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Yea
A hi kona
No
Swi nga va tano
Maybe
Ndzi amukela
Mi agree
Ndzi nga amukeli
Mi nuh agree
Iku na switlhavelo
Dat sound good
U ehleketa yini?
Wah yuh tink?
U nga ndzi pfuna?
Yuh can help mi?
Ndzi lava mpfuno
Mi need help
Hlayisa nkarhi
Wait likkle
Ndzi tsundzuka
Mi sorry
A hi na xiphiqo
No problem
Ndzakuva
Congrats
Mavongele yo tsakela
Happy birthday
U va na ndlela yo olova
Have a safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Whey di train station deh?
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Whey di bus stop deh?
I platform yihi?
Wich platform it deh?
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Wha time it a lef?
I ndlela leyi nga right?
Dis a di right way?
I kona edzongeni.
It near yah.
I le n'hweti.
It far from yah.
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
Yuh can show mi pon di map?
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Stop yah, please.
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
How long it a tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ku humelela njhani?
How much dis a cost?(i ku humelela njhani?)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Dat too expensive
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
Yuh have anyting cheaper?
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
Mi can pay wid card?
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
Mi would like a table fi two
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
Di bill, please
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Service include?
Ndza va vegetarian.
Mi a vegetarian
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
No spicy food, please
Leswi i switlhavi.
Dis nice
Ndzaku na menu?
Mi can get di menu?
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
A glass a water, please
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tivisa mapolisa
Call di police
Tivisa ambalansi
Call a ambulance
Ndzi lava dokotela
Mi need a doctor
Ndzi khoma ku vava
Mi feel sick
Ndza va na ku vava hi mapfuri
Mi allergic to peanuts
Hospital leyi nga ekule i wihi?
Whe di nearest hospital deh?
Ku vava laha
It hurt yah
Ndzi lahlekeriwe hi passport ya mina
Mi lose mi passport
U nga tivisa hotel ya mina?
Yuh can call mi hotel?
Shelp!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ku tsakela ku hlangana na wena
Nice fi meet yuh
A hi endla xihlanganiso
Mek wi set up a meeting
Ntiyiso wo sungula ku tirha na wena?
Wha time work fi yuh?
Ndzi ta rhumela xitlhavelo namuntlha
Mi a go send di report today
Kambe hi nga vulavula sweswi?
Can wi chat tomorrow?
Ndza kombela u kuma faayela ku hlanganisiwa
Please find di file attached
Ndza nkhensa hi nkarhi wa wena
Tank yuh fi yuh time
Ndza langutela ku tirha na wena
Mi a look forward fi work wid yuh
U nga ku hlamusela xiphemu lexi?
Yuh can clarify dat point?
A ndzi ta vuya eka wena
Mek mi get back to yuh
Nkarhi wo heta i Friday
Di deadline a Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.