Ṋamusi
Today
Usage
The basic word for today
Grammar Note
"ṋ" is the underlined n; do not write it as "namusi"
Matshelo
Tomorrow
Usage
The word for tomorrow, often paired with today
Grammar Note
It shares a stem with "matsheloni" (in the morning) but is a different word
Mulovha
Yesterday
Usage
The word for yesterday
Grammar Note
Not the verb "lovha" (to die). In sentences it often follows the verb
Musumbuluwo
Monday
Usage
Name of the day. "nga Musumbuluwo" means "on Monday"
Grammar Note
Day names are capitalised. Government texts use the pattern "Musumbuluwo u swika nga Ḽavhuṱanu" (Monday to Friday)
Ḽavhuvhili
Tuesday
Usage
Name of the day. "nga Ḽavhuvhili" means "on Tuesday"
Grammar Note
Day names are capitalised. The initial "Ḽ" is an l with a mark below. It is "Ḽavhu-" followed by the numeral "vhili" (two)
Ḽavhuraru
Wednesday
Usage
Name of the day. "nga Ḽavhuraru" means "on Wednesday"
Grammar Note
Day names are capitalised. It is "Ḽavhu-" followed by the numeral "raru" (three). The word for Thursday could not be confirmed, so it is not included
Ḽavhuṱanu
Friday
Usage
Name of the day. "nga Ḽavhuṱanu" means "on Friday"
Grammar Note
Day names are capitalised. It is "Ḽavhu-" followed by the numeral "ṱanu" (five). Keep the mark under the "ṱ"
Mugivhela
Saturday
Usage
Name of the day. "nga Mugivhela" means "on Saturday"
Grammar Note
Day names are capitalised. "nga Mugivhela" means "on Saturday"
Swondaha
Sunday
Usage
Name of the day. "nga Swondaha" means "on Sunday"
Grammar Note
Day names are capitalised. "nga Swondaha" means "on Sunday". The name looks like a loanword
Phando
January
Usage
The name for January. "nga Phando" means "in January"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Luhuhi
February
Usage
The name for February. "nga Luhuhi" means "in February"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Ṱhafamuhwe
March
Usage
The name for March. "nga Ṱhafamuhwe" means "in March"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Keep the underlined Ṱ, and do not confuse it with August "Ṱhangule"
Lambamai
April
Usage
The name for April. "nga Lambamai" means "in April"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Shundunthule
May
Usage
The name for May. "nga Shundunthule" means "in May"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Fulwi
June
Usage
The name for June. "nga Fulwi" means "in June"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Fulwana
July
Usage
The name for July. "nga Fulwana" means "in July"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. It is close in form to June "Fulwi", so do not mix them up
Ṱhangule
August
Usage
The name for August. "nga Ṱhangule" means "in August"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Keep the underlined Ṱ, and do not confuse it with March "Ṱhafamuhwe"
Khubvumedzi
September
Usage
The name for September. "nga Khubvumedzi" means "in September"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Tshimedzi
October
Usage
The name for October. "nga Tshimedzi" means "in October"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Ḽara
November
Usage
The name for November. "nga Ḽara" means "in November"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. "Ḽ" is the underlined l. Few examples show this word as November, so native review is advised
Nyendavhusiku
December
Usage
The name for December. "nga Nyendavhusiku" means "in December"
Grammar Note
Month names are capitalised. Put "nga" before it for "in (the month of)"
Matsheloni
In the morning
Usage
The word for morning, also used in the greeting "Ndi matsheloni"
Grammar Note
The ending "-ni" is the locative, meaning "in / at"
Masiari
In the afternoon
Usage
The word for daytime and afternoon, also used in "Ndi masiari"
Grammar Note
In the Bible it means daytime. It is not the evening word "madekwana"
Madekwana
In the evening
Usage
The word for evening, also used in "Ndi madekwana"
Grammar Note
It is the time before "vhusiku" (night)
Vhusiku
Night
Usage
The word for night
Grammar Note
A noun with the "vhu-" prefix; not the same as "madekwana" (evening)
Ḓuvha
Day
Usage
A day, or the daytime. "ḓuvha ḽa ..." means "the day of ..."
Grammar Note
The plural is "maḓuvha". Keep the underlined ḓ
Vhege
Week
Usage
The word for week, often as "kha vhege" (per week)
Grammar Note
It links to what follows with "ya", as in "vhege ya ..."
Ṅwedzi
Month
Usage
The word for a calendar month. "ṅwedzi wa ..." means "the month of ..."
Grammar Note
"ṅ" is n with a dot (the ng of "sing"). It can precede a month name as "ṅwedzi wa Fulwi"
Ṅwaha
Year
Usage
The word for year, also used as "ṅwaha wa ..."
Grammar Note
The plural is "miṅwaha". "ṅ" is n with a dot
Awara
Hour
Usage
The word for an hour as a length of time. A set phrase for asking the clock time could not be confirmed, so none is included
Grammar Note
A word borrowed from English "hour"; the form "iri" is also used
Minithi
Minute
Usage
The word for a minute of time
Grammar Note
A word borrowed from English "minute"
Vhege i ḓaho
Next week
Usage
How to say next week; it can open or close a sentence
Grammar Note
Literally "the week that comes" (a relative form of "ḓa", to come)
Nga Swondaha
On Sunday
Usage
Put "nga" before a day name to say "on that day"
Grammar Note
Other days use the same pattern (Nga Mugivhela = on Saturday)
Maḓuvha maṱanu kha vhege
Five days a week
Usage
Useful for saying how many days you work or do something
Grammar Note
The numeral "ṱhanu" (five) takes the class form "maṱanu" to agree with "maḓuvha"; keep the marks under "ṱ" and "ḓ". This is a composed sentence; native review is advised
More Tshivenda phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
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