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Tsonga phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

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    Tsonga (Xitsonga) is one of the main languages of South Africa.

    Pronunciation guide

    [edit]

    Vowels

    [edit]

    Consonants

    [edit]

    Common diphthongs

    [edit]

    Phrase list

    [edit]

    Basics

    [edit]
    Common signs
    OPEN
    CLOSED
    ENTRANCE
    EXIT
    PUSH
    PULL
    TOILET
    MEN
    WOMEN
    FORBIDDEN
    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    now
    ( )
    later
    ( )
    before
    ( )
    morning
    ( )
    afternoon
    ( )
    evening
    ( )
    night
    ( )

    Clock time

    [edit]
    one o'clock AM
    ( )
    two o'clock AM
    ( )
    noon
    ( )
    one o'clock PM
    ( )
    two o'clock PM
    ( )
    midnight
    ( )

    Duration

    [edit]
    _____ minute(s)
    ( )
    _____ hour(s)
    ( )
    _____ day(s)
    ( )
    _____ week(s)
    ( )
    _____ month(s)
    ( )
    _____ year(s)
    ( )

    Days

    [edit]
    today
    Namuntlha( )
    yesterday
    Tolo( )
    tomorrow
    Mundzuku( )
    this week
    ( )
    last week
    ( )
    next week
    ( )
    Sunday
    Sonto
    Monday
    Musumbhunuko
    Tuesday
    Ravumbirhi
    Wednesday
    ( )
    Thursday
    ( )
    Friday
    ( )
    Saturday
    ( )

    Months

    [edit]
    January
    Sunguti( )
    February
    Nyenyenyani( )
    March
    Nyenyankulu( )
    April
    Dzivamisoko( )
    May
    Mudyaxihi( )
    June
    Khotavuxika( )
    July
    Mawuwani( )
    August
    Mhawuri( )
    September
    Ndzati( )
    October
    Nhlangula( )
    November
    Hukuri( )
    December
    N'wendzamhala( )

    Writing time and date

    [edit]

    Colors

    [edit]
    black
    Ntima( )
    white
    Basa( )
    gray
    ( )
    red
    Tshwuka( )
    blue
    Wasi( )
    yellow
    Xitshopana( )
    green
    Rihlaza( )
    orange
    Lamula( )
    purple
    ( )
    brown
    Ribungwa( )

    Transportation

    [edit]

    Bus and train

    [edit]
    How much is a ticket to _____?
    Xana i mali muni ku ya e___? ( )
    One ticket to _____, please.
    ( )
    Where does this train/bus go?
    ( )
    Where is the train/bus to _____?
    ( )
    Does this train/bus stop in _____?
    ( )
    When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
    ( )
    When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
    ( )

    Directions

    [edit]
    How do I get to _____ ?
    ( )
    ...the train station?
    ( )
    no ena khandle xi kho
    ...the bus station?
    ( )
    ...the airport?
    ( )
    ...downtown?
    ( )
    ...the youth hostel?
    ( )
    ...the _____ hotel?
    ( )
    ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
    ( )
    Where are there a lot of...
    ( )
    ...hotels?
    ( )
    ...restaurants?
    ( )
    ...bars?
    ( )
    ...sites to see?
    ( )
    Can you show me on the map?
    ( )
    street
    ( )
    Turn left.
    ( )
    Turn right.
    ( )
    left
    ( )
    right
    ( )
    straight ahead
    ( )
    towards the _____
    ( )
    past the _____
    ( )
    before the _____
    ( )
    Watch for the _____.
    ( )
    intersection
    ( )
    north
    ( )
    south
    ( )
    east
    ( )
    west
    ( )
    uphill
    ( )
    downhill
    ( )

    Taxi

    [edit]
    Taxi!
    ( )
    Take me to _____, please.
    ( )
    How much does it cost to get to _____?
    ( )
    Take me there, please.
    ( )

    Lodging

    [edit]
    Do you have any rooms available?
    ( )
    How much is a room for one person/two people?
    ( )
    Does the room come with...
    ( )
    ...bedsheets?
    ( )
    ...a bathroom?
    ( )
    ...a telephone?
    ( )
    ...a TV?
    ( )
    May I see the room first?
    ( )
    Do you have anything quieter?
    ( )
    ...bigger?
    ( )
    ...cleaner?
    ( )
    ...cheaper?
    ( )
    OK, I'll take it.
    ( )
    I will stay for _____ night(s).
    ( )
    Can you suggest another hotel?
    ( )
    Do you have a safe?
    ( )
    ...lockers?
    ( )
    Is breakfast/supper included?
    ( )
    What time is breakfast/supper?
    ( )
    Please clean my room.
    ( )
    Can you wake me at _____?
    ( )
    I want to check out.
    ( )

    Money

    [edit]
    Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
    ( )
    Do you accept British pounds?
    ( )
    Do you accept euros?
    ( )
    Do you accept credit cards?
    ( )
    Can you change money for me?
    ( )
    Where can I get money changed?
    ( )
    Can you change a traveler's check for me?
    ( )
    Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
    ( )
    What is the exchange rate?
    ( )
    Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
    ( )

    Eating

    [edit]
    A table for one person/two people, please.
    ( )
    Can I look at the menu, please?
    ( )
    Can I look in the kitchen?
    ( )
    Is there a house specialty?
    ( )
    Is there a local specialty?
    ( )
    I'm a vegetarian.
    ( )
    I don't eat pork.
    ( )
    I don't eat beef.
    ( )
    I only eat kosher food.
    ( )
    Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
    ( )
    fixed-price meal
    ( )
    a la carte
    ( )
    breakfast
    Swakudya swa nampundzu( )
    lunch
    Swakudya swa na nhlikani( )
    tea (meal)
    ( )
    supper
    ( )
    I want _____.
    ( )
    I want a dish containing _____.
    ( )
    chicken
    Huku( )
    beef
    Nyama ya homu( )
    fish
    Nhlampfi( )
    ham
    ( )
    sausage
    ( )
    cheese
    Shizi( )
    eggs
    Ntandza( )
    salad
    ( )
    (fresh) vegetables
    ( )
    (fresh) fruit
    ( )
    bread
    Xinkwa (SHEEN-kwah)
    toast
    ( )
    noodles
    ( )
    rice
    ( )
    beans
    ( )
    May I have a glass of _____?
    ( )
    May I have a cup of _____?
    ( )
    May I have a bottle of _____?
    ( )
    coffee
    ( )
    tea (drink)
    tiya (TEE-yah)
    juice
    ( )
    (bubbly) water
    ( )
    (still) water
    ( )
    beer
    ( )
    red/white wine
    ( )
    May I have some _____?
    ( )
    salt
    ( )
    black pepper
    ( )
    butter
    ( )
    Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
    ( )
    I'm finished.
    ( )
    It was delicious.
    ( )
    Please clear the plates.
    ( )
    The check, please.
    ( )

    Bars

    [edit]
    Do you serve alcohol?
    ( )
    Is there table service?
    ( )
    A beer/two beers, please.
    ( )
    A glass of red/white wine, please.
    ( )
    A pint, please.
    ( )
    A bottle, please.
    ( )
    _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
    ( )
    whiskey
    ( )
    vodka
    ( )
    rum
    ( )
    water
    ( )
    club soda
    ( )
    tonic water
    ( )
    orange juice
    ( )
    Coke (soda)
    ( )
    Do you have any bar snacks?
    ( )
    One more, please.
    ( )
    Another round, please.
    ( )
    When is closing time?
    ( )
    Cheers!
    ( )

    Shopping

    [edit]
    Do you have this in my size?
    ( )
    How much is this?
    ( )
    That's too expensive.
    ( )
    Would you take _____?
    ( )
    expensive
    ( )
    cheap
    ( )
    I can't afford it.
    ( )
    I don't want it.
    ( )
    You're cheating me.
    ( )
    I'm not interested.
    (..)
    OK, I'll take it.
    ( )
    Can I have a bag?
    ( )
    Do you ship (overseas)?
    ( )
    I need...
    ( )
    ...toothpaste.
    ( )
    ...a toothbrush.
    ( )
    ...tampons.
    . ( )
    ...soap.
    ( )
    ...shampoo.
    ( )
    ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
    ( )
    ...cold medicine.
    ( )
    ...stomach medicine.
    ... ( )
    ...a razor.
    ( )
    ...an umbrella.
    ( )
    ...sunblock lotion.
    ( )
    ...a postcard.
    ( )
    ...postage stamps.
    ( )
    ...batteries.
    ( )
    ...writing paper.
    ( )
    ...a pen.
    ( )
    ...English-language books.
    ( )
    ...English-language magazines.
    ( )
    ...an English-language newspaper.
    ( )
    ...an English-English dictionary.
    ( )

    Driving

    [edit]
    I want to rent a car.
    ( )
    Can I get insurance?
    ( )
    stop (on a street sign)
    ( )
    one way
    ( )
    yield
    ( )
    no parking
    ( )
    speed limit
    ( )
    gas (petrol) station
    ( )
    petrol
    ( )
    diesel
    ( )

    Authority

    [edit]
    I haven't done anything wrong.
    ( )
    It was a misunderstanding.
    ( )
    Where are you taking me?
    ( )
    Am I under arrest?
    ( )
    I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
    ( )
    I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
    ( )
    I want to talk to a lawyer.
    ( )
    Can I just pay a fine now?
    ( )


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