Tsonga phrasebook

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

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 (𝗦𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘄𝗶 ) later (𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘇𝗮𝗸𝘂 𝗸𝗮 𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗶 ) before ( ) morning (𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘇𝘂 ) afternoon (𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗶 ) evening