Looking for practical Venda to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Venda phrase first, then the Tetum translation (Tetum) — 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 Tetum.
Tip: when a Tetum phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Venda wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Venda to Tetum 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
Olá
Ndi a livhuwa
Obrigadu
Ndi matsheloni
Bondia
Ndi masiari
Bona tarde
Ndi madekwana
Bona noite
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Bona noite
Tshilidzi
Ami hanesan
Vhuyani
Adeus
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Quale naran ida?
Dzina langa ndi John
Naran hau John.
Ni khou itea?
Kona ba o?
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?
Keta fala Inglês?(ni a thota n'wambo)
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi
Hau la fala Hindi diak.(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
A ndi ḓivhi
Hau la hatene.(a ndi dhiwi)
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Favor fala ba moris.(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?
Keta bele fala fali?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Bani hu na khotani?
Onde mak banheira?(bani hu na khotani)
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Fhulu u ya shango
Virar ba hadau.(fhulu u ya shango)
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho
Virar ba direita.(fhulu u ya thoho)
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Baa diretamente.(dhi thota nga thoho)
Fhasi i na hani?
Iha ne'e barak?(fhasi i na hani)
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please
Ticket ida, favor.(ticket ye la, nd please)
I na fhasi u bva hone?
Iha ne'e laran ka?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ndi a fhedza
Hau nune'e.(ndi a fhedza)
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?(ndi nga wana SIM card phi)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Sim
Aih
La
Ndi nga si
Talvez
Ndi a livhuwa
Hau hakarak
Ndi a sa livhuwi
Hau la hakarak
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Nia mak diak
U vhona mini?
Ita nian ideia sa?
U nga nthusa?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Ndi na nyito
Hau precisa ajuda
Langa muthu
Hakarak momentu
Ndi a humbula
Hau mós
A hu na nḓila
La problema
Ndi a livhuwa
Parabens
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Parabens ba aniversario
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi i-station ye-train?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Uphi i-bus stop?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
I-platform efani na?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Iri ngafhi?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Iri khathihi na.
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Iri khulwane na.
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zwi khou itea ngani?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Izwi ndi zwihulu.
Esa mak baratu demais.
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.
Fatu, por favor.
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?
Servisu iha ka?
Ndi muvegetarian.
Hau vegetarian.
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Izi ndi zwitukwama.
Esa mak saboru.
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fhonelela mapolisa
Liga ba polícia
Fhonelela ambulanse
Liga ba ambulansia
Ndi funa ngaka
Hau precisa doutor
Ndi a shota
Hau sente sick
Ndi na u shota kha phiri
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu
Hau hasai passport
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Ramba!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
A ri vhe na thendo
Kita halo reunião
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi
Hau sei volta ba ita
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.