Looking for practical Venda to NKo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Venda phrase first, then the NKo translation (NKo) — 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 NKo.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a NKo-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Venda to NKo 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
ᎣᏍᏆ(Oscha)
Ndi a livhuwa
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ(Ascadodi)
Ndi matsheloni
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ(Oscha Edodhi)
Ndi masiari
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ(Oscha Atsachadi)
Ndi madekwana
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ(Oscha Dagadudi)
Ndi masiari a u fhela
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Oscha Datsicha)
Tshilidzi
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ(Oscha Dagadodi)
Vhuyani
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ(Oscha Danodi)
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
Dzina langa ndi John
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
Ni khou itea?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?(Hisch Hisch?)
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
A ndi ḓivhi
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߓߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Bani hu na khotani?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Fhulu u ya shango
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Fhasi i na hani?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
I na fhasi u bva hone?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ndi a fhedza
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Aih
𞤈𞤢𞤣
Ndi nga si
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndi a livhuwa
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢
Ndi a sa livhuwi
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
U vhona mini?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
U nga nthusa?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndi na nyito
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Langa muthu
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Ndi a humbula
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
A hu na nḓila
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndi a livhuwa
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi i-station ye-train?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Uphi i-bus stop?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
I-platform efani na?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Iri ngafhi?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Iri khathihi na.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Iri khulwane na.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zwi khou itea ngani?
ߊߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌߟߌ?(aɡa fɔtɔ?)
Izwi ndi zwihulu.
߉ߠߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ)
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi muvegetarian.
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Izi ndi zwitukwama.
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.