Culture & Etiquette

1. Vhavenḓa

   The Venda people

   Usage

   The word for the people who speak Tshivenḓa. For a single person, "Muvenḓa"

   Grammar Note

   "Vha-" is the class 2 plural prefix for people. The singular is "Muvenḓa" with "Mu-"

2. Tshivenḓa

   The Venda language

   Usage

   The speakers’ own name for the Venda language. Signs sometimes write it as "Tshivenda" without the mark

   Grammar Note

   Language names take the class 7 prefix "Tshi-". "Tshivenḓa" is frequent in the corpus

3. Mvelele ya Tshivenḓa

   Venda custom and tradition

   Usage

   A way to refer to Venda custom and tradition, a starting point when talking about manners and ceremonies

   Grammar Note

   The corpus has "nga mvelele ya tshivenda" (by Venda custom). "ya" is the linker that agrees with the class of "mvelele"

4. Khosi

   Chief

   Usage

   A traditional ruler. Venda areas are still organised around the royal villages ("musanda") of chiefs

   Grammar Note

   A noun, plural "mahosi". Texts put the honorific "Vho-" before a person's name

5. Musanda

   Royal village, chief’s court

   Usage

   The central village where a chief and his family live. Do not walk in without permission; greet people nearby and ask for guidance

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 noun, plural "misanda". It occurs often in the corpus history passages

6. U ṱhonifha

   To respect

   Usage

   The verb for respect shown to elders and chiefs, which Venda manners value highly

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is "u" plus the verb. "ṱh" uses "ṱ" with the circumflex below. Found in both the Bible and the corpus

7. Ndau

   (Respectful greeting to elders and chiefs)

   Usage

   A respectful greeting to elders and chiefs, said while clapping the hands. Keep it apart from the ordinary "Ndaa"

   Grammar Note

   A corpus scene has "Ndau, vhahulwane!" and explains that respect is shown by clapping. The reply form needs native review. "ndau" also means lion

8. Tshugulu ya Mapungubwe

   The Mapungubwe golden rhino

   Usage

   A rhino figure covered in gold, found at Mapungubwe, one of the best-known objects of South African history

   Grammar Note

   The corpus has the heading "Tshugulu ya Mapungubwe" and describes the rhino as covered with gold ("musuku"); the detail needs native review. "Golden" is not in the heading itself; it comes from that description. Do not use "tshikwara" for the rhino: it means hill or slope

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