Maḓi
Water
Usage
A single word that gets you water
Grammar Note
"maḓi" is always plural in form and stands for uncountable things like water; mind the mark under the "ḓ"
Zwiḽiwa
Food
Usage
Means food in general
Grammar Note
Related to "u ḽa" (to eat) and plural in the "zwi-" class; "ḽ" has a mark below
Tshelede
Money
Usage
Means money in general, used when talking about payment
Grammar Note
"masheleni" appears in official writing, but "tshelede" is the everyday word
Mushonga
Medicine
Usage
Used when looking for or buying medicine
Grammar Note
The plural is "mishonga"; it belongs to the "mu-/mi-" class
Luṱingo
Telephone
Usage
Used when talking about a phone or a phone number
Grammar Note
"ṱ" has a mark below; the loanword "founu" is also used for a mobile phone
Sibadela
Hospital
Usage
Used to ask for or say you want to go to a hospital
Grammar Note
A loanword; a clinic is "kiliniki"
Dokotela
Doctor
Usage
Used when you need or look for a doctor
Grammar Note
A loanword from English "doctor", spelled to fit Tshivenḓa
Mapholisa
Police
Usage
Refers to the police or police officers
Grammar Note
A plural-form word (ma-); a single officer is a form of "pholisa"
Kamara
Room
Usage
Used for a room in a lodging
Grammar Note
A loanword; "kamarani" means "in the room"
Nḓila
Road / path
Usage
Means a road, path or way
Grammar Note
"ḓ" carries a mark below; keep it, because the unmarked spelling is common but wrong
Muṱa
Family / household
Usage
Means a family or household
Grammar Note
"ṱ" has a mark below; often used as "muṱa wa ..." (the family of ...)
Dzina
Name
Usage
Means the name of a person or thing
Grammar Note
The owner word follows it, as in "dzina ḽanga" (my name)
Goloi
Car
Usage
Means a car or a vehicle in general
Grammar Note
A loanword, used as "goloi ya ..." (the car of ...)
Bisi
Bus
Usage
Means a bus
Grammar Note
A loanword from English "bus"
Tshikolo
School
Usage
Means a school
Grammar Note
A "tshi-" class noun; the plural is "zwikolo"
Ofisi
Office
Usage
Means an office, for example a government or company office
Grammar Note
A loanword from English, used as "ofisi ya ..." (the office of ...)
Thavha
Mountain
Usage
Means a mountain
Grammar Note
The plural is "dzithavha"
Mulambo
River
Usage
Means a river
Grammar Note
The plural is "milambo"; it is a "mu-/mi-" class noun
Ṱhoho
Head
Usage
Means the head
Grammar Note
"ṱh" is one sound; keep the mark under the "ṱ"
Maṱo
Eyes
Usage
Means the eyes; one eye is "ḽiṱo"
Grammar Note
The "ma-" plural form; "ṱ" has a mark below
Nḓevhe
Ear
Usage
Means the ear
Grammar Note
The singular and plural have the same form
Ningo
Nose
Usage
Means the nose
Grammar Note
A locative form is possible, as in "ningoni" (in the nose)
Mulomo
Mouth
Usage
Means the mouth
Grammar Note
The plural is "milomo"
Ḽiṋo
Tooth
Usage
Means one tooth; the plural is "maṋo"
Grammar Note
Both "ḽ" and "ṋ" carry marks below, so check each letter
Tshanḓa
Hand / arm
Usage
Means the hand; the plural is "zwanḓa"
Grammar Note
"ḓ" has a mark below; the same word is also used for the arm
Munwe
Finger
Usage
Means a finger; the plural is "minwe"
Grammar Note
A "mu-/mi-" class noun
Thumbu
Stomach / belly
Usage
Means the stomach or belly; also used to describe pain
Grammar Note
The form "thumbuni" means "in the stomach"
Mulenzhe
Leg / foot
Usage
Covers the leg and the foot
Grammar Note
The plural is "milenzhe"; "nzh" is one sound
Lukanda
Skin
Usage
Means the skin or hide
Grammar Note
A "lu-" class noun
Muvhili
Body
Usage
Means the whole body
Grammar Note
The plural is "mivhili"
Rambo
Bone
Usage
Means a bone; the plural is "marambo"
Grammar Note
The singular is "rambo" and the plural "marambo", with "ma-"
Malofha
Blood
Usage
Means blood
Grammar Note
Always used in the plural "ma-" form
Mavhudzi
Hair
Usage
Means the hair of the head
Grammar Note
Always used in the plural "ma-" form
Mbilu
Heart
Usage
Means the heart, physical or emotional
Grammar Note
The owner word follows it, as in "mbilu yanga" (my heart)
Lulimi
Tongue
Usage
Means the tongue
Grammar Note
A "lu-" class noun
Tshifhaṱuwo
Face
Usage
Means the face
Grammar Note
The plural is "zwifhaṱuwo"; "ṱ" has a mark below
More Tshivenda phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Festivals & Events
- Laundry
- Language Learning
- Volunteering
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks