Looking for practical Tumbuka to Venda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka 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: pick five Venda phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka 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.
Moni
Ndi matsheloni
Zikomo
Ndi a livhuwa
Muli bwanji
Ndi matsheloni
Muli bwanji
Ndi masiari
Muli bwanji
Ndi madekwana
Usiku wabwino
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Tiwonana
Tshilidzi
Tsalani bwino
Vhuyani
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Dzina langa ndi John
Dzina langa ndi John
Muli bwanji?
Ni khou itea?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?(ni a thota n'wambo)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
Sindikumva
A ndi ḓivhi(a ndi dhiwi)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Bani hu na khotani?(bani hu na khotani)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Pita kumanzere
Fhulu u ya shango(fhulu u ya shango)
Pita kumanja
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho(fhulu u ya thoho)
Pita mwendo
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho(dhi thota nga thoho)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Fhasi i na hani?(fhasi i na hani)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please(ticket ye la, nd please)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
I na fhasi u bva hone?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ndakhalapo
Ndi a fhedza(ndi a fhedza)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti 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.
Iye
Ee
Ayi
Aih
Pang'ono
Ndi nga si
Ndikugwirizana
Ndi a livhuwa
Sindikugwirizana
Ndi a sa livhuwi
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
U vhona mini?
Mungandithandize?
U nga nthusa?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Ndi na nyito
Dikirani pang’ono
Langa muthu
Ndikupemphera
Ndi a humbula
Palibe vutoli
A hu na nḓila
Zikomo
Ndi a livhuwa
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Uphi i-station ye-train?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Uphi i-bus stop?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
I-platform efani na?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Iri ngafhi?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Iri khathihi na.
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Iri khulwane na.
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Zwi khou itea ngani?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Izwi ndi zwihulu.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Ndi muvegetarian.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Izi ndi zwitukwama.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Fhonelela mapolisa
Fufuzani ambulansi
Fhonelela ambulanse
Ndikufuna dokotala
Ndi funa ngaka
Ndikuwona bwino
Ndi a shota
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Ndi na u shota kha phiri
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?
Kuli kuuma apa
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?
Thandizani!
Ramba!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
A ri vhe na thendo
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.