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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Tsonga as a Foreign Language: Most Common Phrases


Here are some phrases that I think could really help in your everyday language. It is not a complete list thus will be updated constantly.

1. U ya kwihi? = Where are you going?
2. U vuya kwihi? = Where are you coming from?
3. Ndzi kombela mati. = May I please have some water?
4. Hi wena mani vito? = What's your name?
5. U wa ka mani xivongo? = What is your surname?
6. Ndza kha ndza vuya. = I'm coming back soon.
7. Ndza kha ndza ta. = I'm coming.
8. U le kwihi? = Where are you?
9. A wu ri kwihi? = Where were you?
10. Ndza ku rhandza. = I love you.

11. U na mani? = Who are you with?
12. U ndzi fonela. = Call me.
13. Hi ya kaya. = We're going home.
14. Xikolo xi humile. = School is out.
15. Xikolo xi nghenile. = School is in.
16. Ndzi le xikolweni. = I'm in school.
17. U tshama kwihi? = Where do you stay?
18. U nghena kwihi? = Where are you studying?
19. U tirha kwihi? = Where do you work?
20. Va pfukile kaya? = Are they well at home?

21. Va kona mhani kaya? = Is your/our/my mother at home?
22. Ndzi ta vuya mundzuku. = I'll come back tomorrow.
23. Ndzi twa torha. = I'm thirsty.
24. Ndzi twa ndlala. = I'm hungry.
25. Ndzi xurhile. = I'm fool.
26. Ndzi twa vurhongo. = I feel sleepy.
27. U etlela kahle. = Sleep well.
28. Ku njhani? = How are you?
29. Avuxeni. = Good morning.
30. Hi ta vonana. = We shall see each other.

31. Ndzi hlangane na Voni. = I bumped into Voni.
32. Ndza vabya. = I'm sick.
33. Ndzi twa ku vava. = I feel pain.
34. Famba xava xinkwa. = Go buy some bread.
35. A ndzi tivi! = I don't know.
36. Wa n'wi tiva Bantsi? = Do you know Bantsi?
37. Ndzi lomba movie? = May I please borrow a movie?
38. U na boyfriend? = Do you (or does she) have a boyfriend?
39. Ti vuya kwihi namuntlha? = Where is it happening today (or tonight)?
40. Ndzi pfukile. = I'm fine/ I'm up.

41. U hundza u ndzi teka. = Pick me up on your way.
42. I nkarhi muni? = What time is it?
43. Mi vuya na guxe aGiyani. = Bring us some guxe from Giyani.
44. Hi maxaka. = We're related.
45. Hi kona a fika. = S/he has just arrived.
46. Ndza ku byela! = I tell you!
47. A ndzi hembi. = I'm not lying.
48. Ka titimela. = It's cold.
49. Ka hisa. = It's hot.
50. Ku na mpfula. = It's raining.

51. U nga hoxeteli bekarha hi marhibye. = Don't hit a bakery with stones. (Don't bite the hands that feed you.)
52. Sweswi. = Now.
53. Hayi sweswi. = Not now.
54. Ndzi tele hi wena boss! = I like your style boss! (Slang)
55. A ndzi xi bayi. = I don't buy it. (Slang)
56. A wu ndzi tati. = You don't scare me/ I don't like your style. (Slang)
57. Kumbe wa ala? = Or are you refusing? (Slang)
58. A ndzi ali. = I'm not refusing.
59. A ndzi tshembi. = I don't believe it.
60. I kule! = It's far!

61. Tana. = Come.
62. Loyi i Makhandeni. = This is Makhandeni.
63. Ndzi tsaka ku mi (ku) tiva. = It's a pleasure to meet you.
64. Ndzi hetile. = I'm done.
65. Swi herile. = It's done.
66. Va te yini? = What did they say?
67. Ndzi karhele. = I'm tired.
68. Maths wa tika (ba). = Math is hard.
69. Ndzi pasile. = I passed.
70. Xichangana i Xilungu. = Shangaan is (like) English.

71. Ka n'we. = Once.
72. Ka mbirhi. = Twice.
73. Swinene. = Very much.
74. Ngopfu. = Very much.
75. Swintsongo. = A little.
76. Hi mina. = It's me.
77. I mani? = Who is it?
78. Nghena. = Come (go) in.
79. Humela handle. = Go (come) outside.
80. Ku sweka. = To cook.

81. Ndzi le ku dyeni. = I'm eating.
82. Vuyani. = Welcome back/ Please come back.
83. Vaxumi. = (Greeting to somebody who's working.)
84. Ndzi ta ta. = I'll come.
85. A ku tsakisa kerekeni. = Church was enjoyable.
86. Namuntlha. = Today.
87. Tolo. = Yesterday. (Tolweni. = Day before yesterday.)
88. Mundzuku. = Tomorrow. (Mundlwani. = Day after tomorrow.)
89. Mina. = Me/I.
90. Vona. = Them.

91. Hina. = Us.
92. Wena. = You.
93. U nga rivali. = Do not forget.


Hi M.K. Baloyi
Founder, First Online Tsonga Dictionary
27.12.2010
All rights reserved.


20 comments:

  1. Thanks man. This is very useful. Ive been trying to learn xitsonga for some time now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I HAVE BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MAN FOR 2 YEARS, WE PLANNED TO GET MARRIED BUT EVERYTHING TURNED THE WRONG WAY WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER LADY, HE LEFT FOR NO REASON, I DID EVERYTHING TO GET HIM BACK BUT NOTHING WORKED THEN I A FRIEND TOLD ME TO CONTACT DR_MACK@YAHOO.COM.... AND I DID WITHOUT DOUBT AND TO MY SURPRISE MY MAN CAME BACK TO ME AND WANT US TO START ALL OVER AGAIN, I AM SO HAPPY MY MAN IS BACK FOREVER

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow that's nice my sister god bless your relationship for ever

      Delete
    2. Wow that's nice my sister god bless your relationship for ever

      Delete
  3. Can I get translation of "you've come a long way"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hy,how do I say"everything that belongs to me"

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is interesting I enjoyed it thank you

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you very much buddy....this is awesome , do you have any other platforms where we can engage with you brother man....like socials!?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would need the correct form for saying "thank you" in the context where several persons are thanking several other persons.
    THANK YOU in advance
    All the best / Jannika

    ReplyDelete
  8. This will help me a lot ☺️☺️ danki

    ReplyDelete