tshivenda language
GREETINGS AND COURTESIES Hello (to a male person) – nda! Hello (to a female person) – aa! Pleased to meet you – Ndo takala ro divhana Good morning – ndi matsheloni Good afternoon – ndi masiari Good evening – ndi madekwana | Brief history of Tshivenda language. As with most of the other peoples of South Africa the Venda (VhaVenda) came from the Great Lakes of Central Africa. They first settled down in the Soutpansberg Mountains. Here they built their first capital, D'zata , the ruins of which can still be seen today. Venda culture has an interesting mix of other cultures - it appears to have incorporated a variety of East African, Central African, Nguni, and Sotho characteristics. For example, the Venda forbid the consumption of pork, a prohibition that is common along the East African coast. They also practice male circumcision, which is common among many Sotho, but not among most Nguni peoples.The Venda language, TshiVenda or LuVenda, emerged as a distinct dialect in the 16th Century. In the 20th Century, the TshiVenda vocabulary was similar to SeSotho, but the grammar shares similarities with Shona dialects , which are spoken in Zimbabwe. Today about 875 000 people in South Africa speak Tshivenda. The history of the Venda starts from the Mapungubwe Kingdom (9th Century). According to historical studies King Shiriyadenga was the first king of Venda and Mapungubwe. Shiriyadenga was succeeded by his children. |
ASKING FOR HELP Excuse me – tshiimo tsha shishi Please – ndi khou tou humbela Thank you – Ndo livhuwa You are welcome – no tanganedzwa | |
EMERGENCY Help – Thuso Call the police – ndi humbela uri vha founele mapholisa Call the ambulance – ndi khou humbela uri vha founele ambulense | |
DAYS Monday - musumbuluwo Tuesday - lavhuvhili Wednesday - lavhuraru Thursday - lavhuna Friday - lavhutanu Saturday - mugivhela Sunday – sondaha | |
NUMBERS One - thihi Two - mbili Three – tharu Four - ina Five - thanu Six - rathi Seven – sumbe | |
SEASONS Spring - lutavula Winter - Nyendavhusika Autumn - Tshimedzi Summer - ndou | |
