Looking for practical Tsonga to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: read the Krio line out loud three times, then cover the Tsonga 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 Tsonga to Krio 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
Hello
Ndza khensa
Tenki
Xewani xitulu
Gud mɔnin
Xewani ntlhanu
Gud aftanun
Xewani nhloko
Gud ivnin
Xewani xihlayo
Gud nait
Tshamisa
Si yu leta
Sala kahle
Bai
U vitaniwani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Ndzina i John
Ma neym na John
U njhani?
Ow yu de?
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
Yu sabi English?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
A no sabi Hindi well.
A ndzi twisisi.
A no sabi.
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
Plis, tok slow.
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Xikombiso xihi?
Weh na di toilet?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Turn left.
Khandziya ekunene.
Turn right.
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Go straight.
Mafambiselo ma yini?
Ow much na di fare?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
One ticket, plis.
I yini ku tlula kona?
E far from ya?
Ndzi khomiwe.
A don lost.
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Yes
A hi kona
No
Swi nga va tano
Maybe
Ndzi amukela
A mi agree
Ndzi nga amukeli
A no agree
Iku na switlhavelo
Dat na fine
U ehleketa yini?
Wet in you tink?
U nga ndzi pfuna?
You fit help me?
Ndzi lava mpfuno
A need help
Hlayisa nkarhi
Wait small
Ndzi tsundzuka
A sorry
A hi na xiphiqo
No problem
Ndzakuva
Congratulations
Mavongele yo tsakela
Happy birthday
U va na ndlela yo olova
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Weh na di train station?
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Weh na di bus stop?
I platform yihi?
Which platform na im?
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Wetin time e go lef?
I ndlela leyi nga right?
Dis na di right way?
I kona edzongeni.
E dey near here
I le n'hweti.
E far from here
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Stop here, pliz
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ku humelela njhani?
How much dis cost?(i ku humelela njhani?)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Dat too expensive.
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
I fit pay by card?
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
I wan table for two.
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
Di bill, please.
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Service dey include?
Ndza va vegetarian.
I na vegetarian.
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
No spicy food, please.
Leswi i switlhavi.
Dis dey sweet.
Ndzaku na menu?
I fit get di menu?
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
A glass of 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 ambulance
Ndzi lava dokotela
A need doctor
Ndzi khoma ku vava
A dey feel sick
Ndza va na ku vava hi mapfuri
A get allergy for peanuts
Hospital leyi nga ekule i wihi?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Ku vava laha
E dey pain here
Ndzi lahlekeriwe hi passport ya mina
A don lose mi passport
U nga tivisa hotel ya mina?
You fit call mi hotel?
Shelp!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ku tsakela ku hlangana na wena
Na nice for meet you
A hi endla xihlanganiso
Make we plan wan meeting
Ntiyiso wo sungula ku tirha na wena?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ndzi ta rhumela xitlhavelo namuntlha
A go send di report tiday
Kambe hi nga vulavula sweswi?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Ndza kombela u kuma faayela ku hlanganisiwa
Abeg find di file wey attach
Ndza nkhensa hi nkarhi wa wena
Tenki for your time
Ndza langutela ku tirha na wena
A dey look forward for work with you
U nga ku hlamusela xiphemu lexi?
You fit clarify dat point?
A ndzi ta vuya eka wena
Make I get back to you
Nkarhi wo heta i Friday
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.