Tsonga (Xitsonga) is one of the main languages of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

Avuxeni. ( )

Hello. (informal)

Ahee. ( )

How are you?

Kunjhani? (inf.) (KOON-jah-nee):Minjhani? (MEEN-jah-nee)

Fine, thank you.

Ni pfukile, na khensa. (NEE fook-EE-leh, NAH KEHN-sah)

What is your name?

Vito ra wena i mani? (bee-TOH RAH WEH-nah ee MAH-nee?)

My name is ______ .

Hi mina ____ . (HEE MEE-nah _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

. ( )

Thank you.

Inkomu. ( )

You're welcome.

Ku khensa mina. (koo KEN-sah mee-nah )

Yes.

Ina. ( )

No.

e-e. ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

Salani kahle. ( )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak Tsonga [well].

A ni vulavuli Xitsonga [kahle].

Do you speak English?

U vulavula Xilungu? (inf.) ( ?):Mi vulavula Xilungu? (formal)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

 ! Pfunani

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

Xewani. ( )

Good evening.

Ri perile. ( )

Good night.

. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

A ni twisisi. (AH nee twee-SEE-see )

Where is the toilet?

 ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .)

Don't touch me!

 ! ( !)

I'll call the police.

. ( .)

Police!

 ! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

 ! ! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

Ni lava dokodela. ( )

Can I use your phone?

 ? ( ?)

Numbers

1

N'me( )

2

Mbirhi( )

3

Nharhu( )

4

Mune( )

5

Ntlhanu( )

6

Tsevu( )

7

Nkombo( )

8

Nhungu( )

9

Kaye( )

10

Khume( )

11

Khumen'we( )

12

Khumembirhi( )

13

Khumenharhu( )

14

Kehumemune( )

15

Khumentlhanu( )

16

Khumetsevu( )

17

Khumenkomba( )

18

Khumenhungu( )

19

Khumekaye( )

20

Makumembirhi( )

21

Makumembirhin'we( )

22

Makumembirhimbirhi( )

23

Makumembirhinharhu( )

30

Makumenharhu( )

40

Makumemune( )

50

Makumentlhanu( )

60

Makumetsevu( )

70

Makumenkombo( )

80

Makumenhungu( )

90

makumekaye( )

100

Dzana( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

( )

2,000

( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

( )

afternoon

( )

evening

( )

night

( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

Namuntlha( )

yesterday

Tolo( )

tomorrow

Mundzuku( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

Sonto

Monday

Musumbhunuko

Tuesday

Ravumbirhi

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

( )

Saturday

( )

Months

January

Sunguti( )

February

Nyenyenyani( )

March

Nyenyankulu( )

April

Dzivamisoko( )

May

Mudyaxihi( )

June

Khotavuxika( )

July

Mawuwani( )

August

Mhawuri( )

September

Ndzati( )

October

Nhlangula( )

November

Hukuri( )

December

N'wendzamhala( )

Colors

black

Ntima( )

white

Basa( )

gray

( )

red

Tshwuka( )

blue

Wasi( )

yellow

Xitshopana( )

green

Rihlaza( )

orange

Lamula( )

purple

( )

brown

Ribungwa( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

Xana i mali muni ku ya e___? ( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

no ena khandle xi kho

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

Swakudya swa nampundzu( )

lunch

Swakudya swa na nhlikani( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

Huku( )

beef

Nyama ya homu( )

fish

Nhlampfi( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

Shizi( )

eggs

Ntandza( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

Xinkwa (SHEEN-kwah)

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

tiya (TEE-yah)

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )