Looking for practical Venda to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Venda 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 Venda 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 Venda 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.
Ndi matsheloni
Hello
Ndi a livhuwa
Tenki
Ndi matsheloni
Gud mɔnin
Ndi masiari
Gud aftanun
Ndi madekwana
Gud ivnin
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Gud nait
Tshilidzi
Si yu leta
Vhuyani
Bai
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Dzina langa ndi John
Ma neym na John
Ni khou itea?
Ow yu de?
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?
Yu sabi English?(ni a thota n'wambo)
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi
A no sabi Hindi well.(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
A ndi ḓivhi
A no sabi.(a ndi dhiwi)
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Plis, tok slow.(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?
Yu fit tok dat again?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Bani hu na khotani?
Weh na di toilet?(bani hu na khotani)
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Fhulu u ya shango
Turn left.(fhulu u ya shango)
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho
Turn right.(fhulu u ya thoho)
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Go straight.(dhi thota nga thoho)
Fhasi i na hani?
Ow much na di fare?(fhasi i na hani)
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please
One ticket, plis.(ticket ye la, nd please)
I na fhasi u bva hone?
E far from ya?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ndi a fhedza
A don lost.(ndi a fhedza)
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?(ndi nga wana SIM card phi)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Yes
Aih
No
Ndi nga si
Maybe
Ndi a livhuwa
A mi agree
Ndi a sa livhuwi
A no agree
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Dat na fine
U vhona mini?
Wet in you tink?
U nga nthusa?
You fit help me?
Ndi na nyito
A need help
Langa muthu
Wait small
Ndi a humbula
A sorry
A hu na nḓila
No problem
Ndi a livhuwa
Congratulations
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Happy birthday
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi i-station ye-train?
Weh na di train station?
Uphi i-bus stop?
Weh na di bus stop?
I-platform efani na?
Which platform na im?
Iri ngafhi?
Wetin time e go lef?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
Dis na di right way?
Iri khathihi na.
E dey near here
Iri khulwane na.
E far from here
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
Stop here, pliz
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zwi khou itea ngani?
How much dis cost?
Izwi ndi zwihulu.
Dat too expensive.
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?
I fit pay by card?
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.
I wan table for two.
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.
Di bill, please.
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?
Service dey include?
Ndi muvegetarian.
I na vegetarian.
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.
No spicy food, please.
Izi ndi zwitukwama.
Dis dey sweet.
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?
I fit get di menu?
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fhonelela mapolisa
Call di police
Fhonelela ambulanse
Call ambulance
Ndi funa ngaka
A need doctor
Ndi a shota
A dey feel sick
Ndi na u shota kha phiri
A get allergy for peanuts
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone
E dey pain here
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu
A don lose mi passport
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?
You fit call mi hotel?
Ramba!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga
Na nice for meet you
A ri vhe na thendo
Make we plan wan meeting
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani
A go send di report tiday
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho
Abeg find di file wey attach
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo
Tenki for your time
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi
A dey look forward for work with you
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?
You fit clarify dat point?
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi
Make I get back to you
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.