# Tsonga language > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tsonga_language > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tsonga_language.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_language > Source revision: 1352323265 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Bantu language of the Tsonga people of Southern Africa Not to be confused with [Dzongkha language](/source/Dzongkha). This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (January 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Tsonga language" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Tsonga Xitsonga Native to Eswatini Mozambique South Africa Zimbabwe Region Gauteng Limpopo Mpumalanga Inhambane Province Gaza Province Maputo Province Maputo City North West Chiredzi District Mwenenzi District Ethnicity VaTsonga Native speakers 3.7 million (2006–2011)[1] 3.4 million L2 speakers in South Africa (2002)[2] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Southern Bantu Tswa–Ronga Tsonga Writing system Latin (Tsonga alphabet) Tsonga Braille Signed forms Signed Tsonga Official status Official language in South Africa Zimbabwe (as 'Shangani') Recognised minority language in Mozambique Language codes ISO 639-1 ts ISO 639-2 tso ISO 639-3 tso Glottolog tson1249 Guthrie code S.53 (S.52)[3] Linguasphere 99-AUT-dc incl. varieties 99-AUT-dca... -dcg This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. Tsonga Person Mutsonga People Vatsonga Language Xitsonga Geographical description of Tsonga in South Africa: proportion of the population that speaks a form of Tsonga at home **Tsonga** ([/ˈ(t)sɒŋɡə/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav) [*(T)SONG-gə*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)) or **Xitsonga** ([/ʃiˈtsɒŋ.ɡə/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*shee-TSONG-gə*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)) as an [endonym](/source/Endonym_and_exonym) (also known as Changana in Mozambique), is a [Bantu language](/source/Bantu_languages) spoken by the [Tsonga people](/source/Tsonga_people) of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa) and [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique). It is mutually intelligible with [Tswa](/source/Tswa_language) and [Ronga](/source/Ronga_language) and the name "Tsonga" is often used as a cover term for all three, also sometimes referred to as Tswa-Ronga. The Xitsonga language has been standardised as a written language. Tsonga is an official language of the Republic of South Africa, and under the name *Shangani* it is recognised as an official language in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. All Tswa-Ronga languages are recognised in [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique). It is not official in [Eswatini](/source/Eswatini) (formerly known as Swaziland). ## History The first records of studies of Xitsonga by Europeans go back the [Swiss](/source/Switzerland) [missionary](/source/Missionary), [Henri-Alexandre Junod](/source/Henri-Alexandre_Junod), who between the years 1890 and 1920 hypothesised that the Xitsonga language (which he called the *Thonga language*) consolidated itself in Mozambique before the [1400s](/source/15th_century). In his own words, Junod states the following:[4] My conclusion is then that the Thonga language was already-spoken by the primitive occupants of the country more than 500 years ago and that, together with a certain number of customs, it formed the great bond which bound the Thonga clans together in past centuries. Further studies were carried out by Junod and other Swiss missionaries such as Henri Berthoud and Ernest Creux, who began work on a [standard](/source/Standard_language) written language, which they called *Shigwamba.* The term was however unfamiliar to many of the speakers, and was later replaced with Thonga/Tsonga.[5] Other Swiss missionaries working alongside Tsonga people translated the [Christian Bible](/source/Bible) from English and [Sesotho](/source/Sotho_language) into Tsonga. In 1996, the language was officially recognized as *Xitsonga* within the [Constitution of South Africa](/source/Constitution_of_South_Africa) (Act 108 of 1996), which declared it an [official language](/source/Official_language) of the nation. The standardization of the Xitsonga language has since strengthened the position of language as a medium for communication. ## Etymology The name "Tsonga" is the root of Xitsonga (culture, language or ways of the Tsonga) Mutsonga (a Tsonga person), Vatsonga (Tsonga people), etc. In the language of the Vatsonga themselves, the root never appears by itself. It is Tsonga for the ease and accessibility of the wider international community. As for the origins of the name, there are three theories. The first states that Tsonga is another pronunciation for Dzonga, which means "South" and also the name of one of the dialects of Xitsonga. The second theory is that it is an alternative spelling of the old ancestral name of the [Chopi](/source/Chopi_people) and Tembe groups, Tonga/Thonga.[6] The other Zulu explanation for the alternative spelling of "Thonga" is that the Tembe and Rhonga people, who were the first to arrive at the Delagoa Bay and around the Natal Bay, transitioned the Rhonga "Rh" into the Zulu form of "Th". An example is *rhuma* (Tsonga word for "send") becoming *thuma* (Zulu word for the same action). The third and most accepted is that it is another pronunciation for "Rhonga", the root for the word "vurhonga" for east or the direction where the sun rises. Vurhonga also means dawn in Xitsonga. Rhonga (commonly and wrongly spelt as Ronga) is one of the Tsonga languages. The physical evidence of most Tsonga people residing along the eastern coast of Africa in the south, extending inland in a westward direction, makes this explanation especially inviting. However Junod had initially used the Ronga appellation but had also realized that the northern clans did not frequently use the name 'Ronga' as their identity name, but most certainly Tsonga is a derivation of Ronga. Much of the written history about the Tsonga regards the aftermath of the mfecane where the [Nguni people](/source/Nguni_people) overran many of the pre-existing African tribes of South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. ## Languages and dialects Tsonga dialects Tsonga is a Bantu language (Guthrie code S.53), closely related to other members to the [Tswa-Ronga](/source/Tswa%E2%80%93Ronga_languages) group (S.50): 1. Ronga (Rhonga) dialects are Kalanga (Xinyisa, Xindindindi (Xizingili), Putru, and Xinyondroma. 1. Tsonga (Gwamba, Gwapa) dialects are Bila (Vila), Djonga (Dzonga, Jonga), Hlanganu (Langanu, Nhlanganu), Hlave (Mbayi, Nkuna, Pai), Kande, Khosa, Luleke, N'walungu (Ngwalungu), Nkuma, Songa, Valoyi, Xika, and Xonga. 1. Tswa (Tshwa) dialects are Dzibi (Dzivi), Dzibi-Dzonga (Dzivi-Dzonga), Tshwa, Hlengwe (Lengwe, Lhenge), Khambani, Makwakwe-Khambani, Mandla, Ndxhonge, and Nhayi (Nyai, Nyayi). Some dialects are subdialects but have been mentioned here for completeness. For example, Valoyi and Luleke comprise the N'walungu dialect. There is no Gwamba dialect as Gwamba is another name for Xitsonga itself. Formally Xitsonga has been called Gwamba. Tswa-Ronga dialects not considered part of the family include Pulana (Xipulana, Sepulane). What is commonly referred to as "Shangana/Changana" is not a recognised language in South Africa and is not a dialect that falls within the Xitsonga language group, as its distinctiveness stems mainly from the use of the [Nguni language](/source/Nguni_languages) and grammar. Only six Thonga/Tsonga dialects exist and these were identified by the dawn of the 1900s. These are namely xiRonga, xiHlanganu, xiBila, xiDjonga, xiN'walungu, and xiHlengwe. All other variations within South Africa are sub-dialects of the aforementioned. The dialects most spoken in the rural communities of Limpopo are the N'walungu, Bila, Hlengwe, and the Hlanganu dialects. The Xitsonga vocabulary and phonetic permutations are also largely based on these dialects (cf. Junod 1912, p. 470–473) For "language of", the various languages and dialects employ one or more of the following prefixes: Bi-, Chi-, Ci-, Gi-, Ici-, Ki-, Ma-, Shee-, Shi-, Txi-, Va-, Wa-, and Xi-. For "people of", they use either "Ba-" or "Va-". ## Orthography Letter IPA value[7] Letter IPA value[7] Letter IPA value[7] Letter IPA value[7] a a p p pf p̪f ff ɸ aa aː ph pʰ pfh p̪fʰ v β e ɛ py pʲ bv b̪v f f ee ɛː phy pʲʰ bvh b̪vʱ vh v, vʱ i i b b ts ts s s ii iː bh bʱ tsh tsʰ, tsᶲʰ sw sʷ, sᶲ o ɔ by bʲ tsw tsʷ, tsᶲ z z oo ɔː bhy bʲʱ dz dz zw zʷ u u t t dzh dzʱ hl ɬ uu uː th tʰ dzhw dzʷʱ hlw ɬʷ r r tw tʷ dzw dzᵝ l l rh rʱ the tʷʰ dhl dɮ lw lʷ rw rʷ ty tʲ c tʃ x ʃ rhw rʷʱ thy tʲʰ ch tʃʰ xw ʃʷ m m d d cw tʃʷ xj ʒ mh mʱ dh dʱ chw tʃʷʰ hh x my mʲ dw dʷ j dʒ hhw xʷ n n dy dʲ jh dʒʱ h ɦ nh nʱ tl tˡ jw dʒʷ hw ɦʷ nw nʷ tlh tˡʰ w w hy ɦʲ nhw nʷʱ tlw tˡʷ y j ny ɲ tlhw tˡʷʰ wh wʱ nyw ɲʷ dl dˡ yh jʱ nʼ ŋ dlw dˡʷ yw jʷ nʼh ŋʱ k k nʼw ŋʷ kh kʰ nʼhw ŋʷʱ kw kʷ q ᵏǀ khw kʷʰ qh ᵏǀʰ g ɡ qhw ᵏǀʷʰ gh ɡʱ gq ᶢǀ gw ɡʷ gqw ᶢǀʷ ghw ɡʷʱ ## Phonology Tsonga has a distinction between [modal](/source/Modal_voice) and [breathy voiced](/source/Breathy_voice) consonants: /bʱ, bvʱ, vʱ, dʱ, ɖʐʱ, dʒʱ, ɡʱ/ vs /b, bv, v, d, ɖʐ, dʒ, ɡ/ among the obstruents (the one exception being /ɮ/), and /m̤, n̤, ŋ̈, r̤, ȷ̈, w̤/ vs /m, n, ŋ, r, j, w/ among the sonorants (the one exception being /ɲ/). The segmental inventory is as follows:[7] ### Vowels Front Central Back Close i, (ĩ), iː u, uː Mid ɛ, (ẽ), ɛː (ə̃) ɔ, ɔː Open a, ã, aː Long vowels are written double. Nasalised vowels are not distinguished in writing; [ĩ, ẽ, ə̃] are only found in words for 'yes' and 'no', while [ã] is found in a few mimetic words. Mid vowels can vary from close-mid to open-mid; they are generally close-mid [e, o] before a high vowel, /i/ or /u/, and low-mid [ɛ, ɔ] otherwise. Vowels may be realised as murmured [i̤, a̤] when following breathy consonants. ### Consonants Labial Labio- dental Dental Alveolar Lateral Post- alveolar Velar Glottal plain pal. plain lab. plain lab. pal. wstld. plain lab. plain lab. plain lab. plain lab. pal. Click voiceless ᵏǀ aspirated ᵏǀʰ ᵏǀʷʰ voiced ᶢǀ ᶢǀʷ Nasal voiced m mʲ n nʷ ɲ ɲʷ ŋ ŋʷ breathy mʱ nʱ nʷʱ ŋʱ ŋʷʱ Stop voiceless p pʲ t tʷ tʲ tˡ tˡʷ k kʷ aspirated pʰ pʲʰ tʰ tʷʰ tʲʰ tˡʰ tˡʷʰ kʰ kʷʰ voiced b bʲ d dʷ dʲ dˡ dˡʷ ɡ ɡʷ breathy bʱ bʲʱ dʱ ɡʱ ɡʷʱ Affricate voiceless p̪f ts tsʷ tsᶲ tʃ tʃʷ aspirated p̪fʰ tsʰ tsʷʰ tsᶲʰ tʃʰ tʃʷʰ voiced b̪v dz dzᵝ dɮ dʒ dʒʷ breathy b̪vʱ dzʱ dzʷʱ dʒʱ Fricative voiceless ɸ f s sʷ sᶲ ɬ ɬʷ ʃ ʃʷ x xʷ voiced β v z zʷ ʒ ɦ ɦʷ ɦʲ breathy vʱ Trill voiced r rʷ breathy rʱ rʷʱ Approximant voiced l lʷ j jʷ w breathy jʱ wʱ Many of these consonants may be preceded by a nasal, but they are not prenasalised consonants: at least in word-initial position, they are nasal–obstruent sequences where the nasals are syllabic. Different consonant sounds may alternate the place of articulation. A number of Tsonga speakers vary the affricates from alveolar [ts], [tsʰ], [dz], [dzʱ], [dzʷʱ] to retroflex [tʂ], [tʂʰ], [dʐ], [dʐʱ], [dʐʷʱ]; the latter are weakly [whistled](/source/Whistled_sibilant) in Tsonga proper and in Changana dialect. Labiodental [ɱ] and dental [n̪] appear in homorganic consonant clusters.[7] Unlike some of the [Nguni languages](/source/Nguni_languages), Tsonga has very few words with [click consonants](/source/Click_consonant), and these vary in place between [dental](/source/Dental_click) [ᵏǀ], [ᵏǀʰ], [ᵏǀʷʰ], [ᶢǀ], [ᶢǀʷ] and [postalveolar](/source/Postalveolar_click) [ᵏ!], [ᵏ!ʰ], [ᵏ!ʷʰ], [ᶢ!], [ᶢ!ʷ]. Examples are: *ngqondo* (mind), *gqoka* (wear/dress), *guqa* (kneel), *riqingo* (phone), *qiqi* (earring), *qamba* (compose), *Mugqivela* (Saturday). ## Grammar The grammar is generally typical of Bantu languages with a [subject–verb–object](/source/SVO_language) order. The structure changes to subject—object—verb when addressing another person: Tsonga English Ndza ku rhandza I you love (I love you) Wa ndzi rhandza You love me Ha ku tiva We know you Va ndzi tiva They know me ### Verbs Almost all [infinitives](/source/Infinitive) have the prefix *ku*- and end with -*a*. Tsonga English ku chava To fear ku tsaka To rejoice ku rhandza to love The main exception to this is the verb *ku ri* – "to say" It corresponds to "ti" in many other Bantu languages. Examples of its usage include: *u ri yini?* – What do you say? (What are you saying?) *ndzi ri ka n'wina* – I say to you all. In many instances the *ri* is often omitted and thus *ku* on its own can also mean "say". *Va ri ndza penga* – They say I'm crazy. *Va ri yini?* – What do they say? (What are they saying?) **Present tense** The present tense is formed by simply using the personal pronoun along with the verb. *Ndzi lava mali* – I want money, *Hi tirha siku hinkwaro* – We work all day, *Mi(u) lava mani?* – Who are you looking for? *U kota ku famba* – S/He knows how to walk. **Present progressive** Generally, to indicate ongoing actions in the present one takes the personal pronoun, drops the *i* and adds *a*. *Ndzi nghena (e)ndlwini* – I am entering the house, *Ha tirha sweswi* – We are working right now, *Ma hemba* – You (plural) are lying, *Wa hemba* – You (singular) are lying, *Wa hemba* – S/He is lying, With the plural *va* (they) there is no difference. Thus *va hemba* = "they lie" and "they are lying". **Past tense** This is formed in one of three ways, depending on the word. (i) Generally, one drops the *a* from the verb and adds the prefix *-ile* *Ndzi nghenile ndlwini* – I entered the house, *Hi tirhile siku hinkwaro* – We worked all day, *U hembile* – You lied, *U hembile* – S/He lied, *Va hembile* – They lied. (ii) With verbs that end with *-ala*, the past tense changes to *-ele* or *-ale*. *ku rivala* – to forget, *Ndzi rivele* – I forgot, *U rivele* – you forgot, *Va rivele* – they forgot, *Ku nyamalala* – To disappear, *U nyamalarile* – S/He – disappeared, Words used to describe a state of being also use the past tense. *Ku karhala* – To be tired, *Ndzi karhele* – I am tired, *U karhele* – S/He is tired, *Va karhele* – They are tired. (iii) In many cases merely changing the last *a* in the verb to an *e* indicates past action. *Ku fika* – To arrive, *U fike tolo* – S/He arrived yesterday, *Ndzi fike tolo* – I arrived yesterday, *Hi tirhe siku hinkwaro* – We worked all day, *Ndzi nghene (e)ndlwini* – I entered the house. **Future tense** This is formed by the adding *ta* in between the personal pronoun and the verb. *Ndzi ta nghena (e)ndlwini* – I will enter the house, *Hi ta tirha siku hinkwaro* – We will work all day, *Va ta tirha siku hinkwaro* – They will work all day, *Mi ta tirha siku hinkwaro* – You (plural) will work all day. ### Noun classes Tsonga has several classes, much like other Bantu languages, which are learned through memorisation mostly. These are: Class Prefix Examples 1 mu- mufana "boy", murhangeri "leader", munhu "person" 2 va- vafana "boys", varhangeri "leaders", vanhu "people" 3 mu-, m-, n- nseve "arrow", nenge "leg", nambu "river" 4 mi- miseve "arrows", milenge "legs", milambu "rivers" 5 ri-, Ø- tiko "country", rito "word", vito "name" 6 ma- matiko "countries", marito "words", mavito "names" 7 xi- Xikwembu "God", xilo "thing", xitulu "chair" 8 swi- Swikwembu "gods", swilo "things", switulu "chairs" 9 yi(n)-, (n)- yindlu "house", mbyana "dog", homu "cow" 10 tiyi(n), ti(n)- tiyindlu "houses", timbyana "dogs", tihomu "cows" 11 ri- rihlaya "jaw", rivambu "rib", rintiho "finger" 14 vu- vutomi "life", vumunhu "humanness", vululami "righteousness" 15 ku- ku tshembha "to trust", ku dya "to eat", ku biha "ugliness" 21 dyi- dyimunhu "abnormally huge person", dyiyindlu "abnormally huge house" - In classes 9 and 10, *yi* is present when the noun stem has one syllable, and is absent otherwise. ### Personal pronouns Personal pronouns in Tsonga are very similar to those of many other Bantu languages, with a few variations. These may be classified as [first person](/source/Grammatical_person) (the speaker), [second person](/source/Grammatical_person) (the one spoken to), and third person (the one spoken about). They are also classified by [grammatical number](/source/Grammatical_number), i.e., singular and plural. There is no distinction between subject and object. Each pronoun has a corresponding [concord or agreement morpheme](/source/Agreement_(linguistics)).[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] Personal pronouns 1st sg. 2nd sg. 3rd sg. 1st pl. 2nd pl. 3rd pl. Pronoun mina wena yena hina n'wina vona Agreement morpheme ndzi, ndza u, wa u, wa hi, ha mi, ma va Example sentences Mina ndzi vona huku. ("I see a chicken.") Mina ndza yi vona huku. ("I see it—the chicken.") Wena u vona huku. ("You see a chicken.") Wena wa yi vona huku. ("You see it—the chicken.") Yena u vona huku. ("He/she sees a chicken.") Yena wa yi vona huku. ("He/she sees it—the chicken.") Hina hi vona huku. ("We see a chicken.") Hina ha yi vona huku. ("We see it—the chicken.") N'wina mi vona huku. ("You see a chicken.") N'wina ma yi vona huku. ("You see it—the chicken.") Vona va vona huku. ("They see a chicken.") Vona va yi vona huku. ("They see it—the chicken.") ## Vocabulary The vocabulary of Xitsonga is essentially similar not only to most South African languages but also other Eastern Bantu languages, for example, Kiswahili.[8] ### Numerals Tsonga English N'we one Mbirhi two Nharhu three Mune four Ntlhanu five Ntsevu six Nkombo seven Nhungu eight Nkaye nine Khume ten Khume (na) n'we / Khumen'we eleven Khume (na) mbirhi / Khumembirhi twelve Khume (na) nharhu / Khumenharhu thirteen Mbirhi wa makhume / Makumembirhi twenty Makhume manharhu / Makumenharhu thirty Mune wa makhume / Makumemune forty Ntlhanu wa makhume / Makumentlhanu fifty Dzana hundred Gidi thousand Miliyoni million ### Months of the year Tsonga English Sunguti January Nyenyenyani February Nyenyankulu March Dzivamisoko April Mudyaxihi May Khotavuxika June Mawuwani July Mhawuri August Ndzati September Nhlangula October Hukuri November N'wendzamhala December ### Borrowings Tsonga, like many other African languages, have been influenced by various European colonial languages. Tsonga vocabulary includes words borrowed from English, [Afrikaans](/source/Afrikaans), and [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language). Also, due to the assimilation of the Shangaan nation, it has taken some words from Nguni languages. Words borrowed from English: - *Thelevhixini (Mavonakule)* – television - *Rhediyo (Xiyanimoya)* – Radio - *Xitulu* – chair (Stool) - *Wachi (Xikomba-nkarhi)* – watch (to tell time) - *Movha (Xipandza-mananga)* – car (automobile) - *Sokisi* – socks - *Nghilazi* – glass - *Tliloko* – clock(bell) - *Masipala* – municipal (plural: *vamasipala*) - *Makhiya/swikhiya (Xilotlela)* – keys Words borrowed from Afrikaans: - *lekere* – sweets (*lekkers*) - *fasitere* – window (*venster*) - *lepula* – spoon (*lepel*) - *kereke* – church (*kerk*) - *buruku* – trousers (*broek*) - *domu* – idiot (*dom*) - *tafula* – table (*tafel*) - *xipuku* – ghost (*spook*) Words borrowed from other Nguni languages: - *riqingho* – phone - *ku qonda* – to head towards (not standard = *ku kongoma*) - *ku gcina* – to end (not standard = *ku hetelela*) - *ku zama* – to try (not standard = *ku ringeta*) ## Writing system ### Xitsonga Latin alphabet Xitsonga uses the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_alphabet). However, certain sounds are spelled using a combination of letters, which either do not exist in [Indo-European languages](/source/Indo-European_languages), or may be meant to distinguish the language somewhat. An example of this is the letter "x" taken from Portuguese orthography, which is pronounced /ʃ/. Therefore, the following words, [ʃuʃa], [ʃikolo], [ʃilo], are written in Tsonga as *-xuxa, xikolo,* and *xilo*. Other spelling differences include the letter "c", which is pronounced /t͡ʃ/. However, where the emphasis of a word is on the following vowel the letter is hardened by adding "h" this the Tsonga word -chava (fear) A sound equivalent to the Welsh "ll" (/ɬ/) is written "hl" in Tsonga, e.g. -hlangana (meet), -hlasela (attack), -hleka (laugh) A whistling sound common in the language is written "sw" or "sv" in Zimbabwean ChiShona. This sound actually belongs to the "x-sw" class within the language. E.g.: - *sweswi* (now) - *xilo* (thing) – *swilo* (things) - *xikolo* (school) – *swikolo* (schools) - *Xikwembu* (God) – *swikwembu* (gods) Another whistling sound is spelled "dy" but has no English equivalent, the closest being the "dr" sound in the English word "drive" Xitsonga has been standardised as a written language. However, there are many dialects within the language that may not pronounce words as written. For example, the Tsonga bible uses the word *byela* (tell), pronounced bwe-la, however a large group of speakers would say "dzvela" instead. The [Lord's Prayer](/source/Lord's_Prayer) as written in the Xitsonga Bible (Bibele) *Tata wa hina la nge matilweni, vito ra wena a ri hlawuriwe; a ku te ku fuma ka wena; ku rhandza ka wena a ku endliwe misaveni; tani hi loko ku endliwa matilweni; u hi nyika namuntlha vuswa bya hina bya siku rin'wana ni rin'wana; u hi rivalela swidyoho swa hina, tani hi loko na hina hi rivalela lava hi dyohelaka; u nga hi yisi emiringweni kambe u hi ponisa eka Lowo biha, hikuva ku fuma, ni matimba, ni ku twala i swa wena hi masiku ni masiku. Amen.* ### Xiyinhlanharhu xa Mipfawulo The *sintu* writing system, *Isibheqe Sohlamvu/[Ditema tsa Dinoko](/source/Ditema_tsa_Dinoko)*, also known technically in Xitsonga as *Xiyinhlanharhu xa Mipfawulo*,[9] is used for all Xitsonga varieties. The class 7/8 noun pairs above are represented as follows: xilo [ʃiːlɔ] swilo [ʂiːlɔ] xikolo [ʃikʼɔːlɔ] swikolo [ʂikʼɔːlɔ] xikwembu [ʃikʷʼɛmbu] swikwembu [ʂikʷʼɛmbu] ## Oral literature ### Tales E. Dora Earthy, a missionary in Mozambique,[10] published a selection of Tsonga folktales (Lenge dialect) with facing-text English translations in the 1937 volume of the journal *Folklore*: Part 1 contains three stories[11] and Part 2 contains an additional seven stories.[12] The organisation Aidglobal published a series of four children's books in Xichangana (one of Mozambique's Tsonga languages) in 2024[13] written by Venâncio Calisto and Mélio Tinga, and illustrated by Suzy Bila, Marisa Bimbo da Costa, Ruben Zacarias and Samuel Djive. The Xichangana/Portuguese translations were done by Williamo Muchanga. ### Songs [Henri-Alexandre Junod](/source/Henri-Alexandre_Junod) included a selection of Tsonga song lyrics with English translations in his 1913 study, *The Life of a South African Tribe.*[14] For more recent studies of Tsonga music and songs, see the publications of Thomas Johnston in the 1970s, all of which include Tsonga song lyrics with English translations.[15][16][17][18][19] ### Riddles Junod also included a selection of Tsonga riddles with English translations in *The Life of a South African Tribe.*[20] Here are two of those riddles: - "*Tiban leshi, nambi mamana wa nwana a ku mu randja ngopfu, loko a tlhasa kaya a nga hluleka ka ku mu yamukela? Hi nyimba.*" "Guess what is it that a mother dearly loves but which could not run to meet her on her return home? The unborn babe in the womb." - "*Leshi, nambi wa ba, ntonsi wa kone wu nga boneki? I mati.*" "The thing which you can beat without leaving a scar? Water." Following up on Junod's work on Tsonga riddles, J.E. Kaemmer has documented Tsonga "tone riddles," specifically the *titekatekani* of the Tswa people.[21] ### Proverbs Here are some of the Tsonga proverbs which Junod recorded in *The Life of a South African Tribe*:[20] - "*Mumiti wa nhengele a dumba nkolo wa kwe.*" "He who swallows a large stone has confidence in the size of his throat (i.e. applying to bumptious and pretentious folk)." (#1) - "*Tinhlange ta le ntjhaku ti tibyiwa hi mutlhabi.*" "The tattooing marks made on the back are known by the tattooer (not by the tattooed, i.e. you do not know what may happen when you have turned your back)." (#3) - "*Matimba ya ngwenya i mati.*" "The strength of the crocodile is water (i.e. when you are in your own domain you can succeed)." (#4) Junod later published *Quelques Proverbes Thonga,* a booklet of Tsonga proverbs, in 1931.[22] Some additional Tsonga proverbs:[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Tsonga English Meaning N'wana wa mfenhe a nga tsandziwi hi rhavi. The child of baboon does not fail a branch. A wiseman's child can do anything. U nga teki mali u bohela enengeni wa mpfuvu. Do not tie money in the leg of hippopotamus. Do not lend your money to people who do not pay back. U nga dlayi nyoka u yi ndzuluta, ta micele ta ku vona. Do not kill a snake and swing it, the ones inside the holes are watching you. Do not do unnecessary bad things to someone, other people are watching you. Kuwa ro tshwuka ri na xivungu endzeni. A fig fruit which is pink, it has a worm inside. Most of very beautiful women they have bad habits. N'wana wa nyoka i nyoka. The child of snake is a snake. A child of a bad person, might be a very bad person. Ndlopfu a yi fi hi ribambu rin'we. An elephant does not die of one (broken) rib. When in trouble, a man should try all efforts to find a solution. Mbuti ya xihaha a yi tswaleli entlhambini. A secretive goat does not give birth in a midst. Keep a secret do not say it where there are many people. N'hwarimbirhi yin'we yi ta tshwa nkanga. If one tries to do more than one thing at the same time, one might not prosper. N'wana wo ka a nga rili u ta fela a dzobyeni. A child who does not cry will die unnoticed at the back of his mother. If you do not raise your voice (in a form of a complaint), you will not be heard. Mbuti yi dya laha yi nga bohiwa kona. A goat eats where it is tied. A person must use properties of a place where he is working. Ku tlula ka mhala ku letela n'wana wa le ndzeni. The way an impala jumps, it influences its unborn child. Whatever bad things a mother does, her daughter will also do. I malebvu ya nghala. It is a lion's beard. A thing may not be as scary as it looks. Nomu a wu taleriwi hi nambu. A mouth can cross any river. A mouth can say all words of promises. Mavoko ya munhu a ma mili nhova/byanyi. Grass cannot grow on a human being's hands. You must work hard (in every possible way) to succeed. Xandla famba, xandla vuya. Let the hand go and let the hand come back. A giving hand is a receiving hand. Humba yi olele nkuma. The snail has collected ashes. A person has died. Mbyana loko yi lava ku ku luma ya n'wayitela. A dog smiles when it intends to bite something. A person can do (or intend to do) bad things to you, while he is smiling. Ku hiwa hi Thomo ku suka e palamendhe ya le tilweni To be given by Thomo (king's name) from heavenly parliament To be blessed by God Vana va munhu va tsemelana nhloko ya njiya. Siblings are sharing the head of locust. Siblings must share good things. Mhunti yo tlulatlula Mangulwe u ta yi khoma. An antelope which is jumping around next to Mangulwe (dog's name), he will catch it. Any girl who has been seen by this boy, she will accept his proposal (used by a boy when he is in love with a girl). Tolo a nga ha vuyi. Yesterday will not come back. Wishing to bring interesting old things of old days to nowadays. Nghala yi vomba exihlahleni. A lion roars in the bush. A warrior is seen in a war. Ku hundza muti ri xile. To pass a home during the day To be stupid Tinghala timbirhi ta chavana. Two lions fear each other. Two powerful nations fear each other. Timpfuvu timbirhi a ti tshami xidziveni xin'we. Two hippos cannot stay in the same deep water. Enemies cannot stay in the same place. Vuhosi a byi peli nambu. Chiefdom does not cross the river. Chiefdom stays in the same family, cannot be passed to other families. A ndzi ku hi laha ku nga na mpfula ku sala ndzhongo. I thought is where the rain has poured and left fertile soil. I thought it was good things. I matutu vana va ntavasi. It is plenty. Ku tshwa nomo To have a burnt mouth Referring to someone who constantly lies, e.g. Jephrey Cuma u tshwe nomo. N'wana u tseme mubya A disobedient child Mutlhontlhi wa tinyarhi ti vuya hi yena. The one who challenges buffaloes they will chase him. He who provokes other people, will face the consequences. Loko u tsundzuka mhelembe khandziya ensinyeni. When you think of rhino, climb a tree. When you think of something, act immediately. Ku ba ndlopfu hi xibakele To hit an elephant with a fist To make a very slight impression Ku banana hi rhambu ra mfenhe To hit each other with a baboon's bone To exchange gifts with relatives only Ku banana hi rhanga ro hisa To hit each other with a hot 'pumpkin' To accuse each other U nga hlawuli nkuku wa mhangele. One must not choose the male of the guinea-fowl (similar to "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched"). This proverb is said to a young husband who might be tempted to prepare something for their babies before their birth, since you do not know if the baby is a male or female. Xihlovo a xi dungiwi loko u heta ku nwa mati. Do not close the well after having drunk. Do not mess up things after using them, you might need them tomorrow. U nga sahi nsinya hi vuxika, u ta tshwa hi mumu hi malanga. Do not cut the tree in winter, you will burn by sun in summer. Do not mess up things when you do not need them, you will suffer when you need them. Mhunti yi biwa ya ha ri na mahika. An antelope is killed while is sighing. A problem must be solved immediately. Xirhami xi vuyisa na n'wana evukatini. Chillness causes a girl to come back to her parents' house from her husband's house. It is very cold. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-e18_1-0)** [Tsonga](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/tso/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Webb, Vic. 2002. "Language in South Africa: the role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development". *Impact: Studies in language and society*, 14:78 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guthrie_3-0)** Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. [New Updated Guthrie List Online](https://web.archive.org/web/20180203191542/http://goto.glocalnet.net/mahopapers/nuglonline.pdf) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Junod, Henry (1912, 1927), *The Life of a South African Tribe: The Social Life*, Neuchatel: Imprimerie Attinger Freres, p. 32–33 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Harries, P. 1987, The Roots of Ethnicity: Discourse and the Politics of Language Construction in South-East Africa, University of the Witwatersrand. p. 16 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Elephant Coast, (2009). History of the Thembe – Thonga, Retrieved from [http://www.visitelephantcoast.co.za/index.php?history_thembe](http://www.visitelephantcoast.co.za/index.php?history_thembe) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200812003856/http://www.visitelephantcoast.co.za/index.php?history_thembe) 12 August 2020 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Baumbach_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Baumbach_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Baumbach_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Baumbach_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Baumbach_7-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Baumbach_7-5) Baumbach, E. J. M. (1987). *Analytical Tsonga Grammar*. Pretoria: University of South Africa.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** DigitalTsonga, (2020). Some Common Xitsonga Words that are also Similar in Kiswahili, Retrieved from [https://www.digitaltsonga.com/&page=blog/2020-12-14/Some_Common_Xitsonga_Words_that_are_also_Similar_in_Kiswahili](https://www.digitaltsonga.com/&page=blog/2020-12-14/Some_Common_Xitsonga_Words_that_are_also_Similar_in_Kiswahili) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201221182234/https://www.digitaltsonga.com/%26page%3Dblog/2020-12-14/Some_Common_Xitsonga_Words_that_are_also_Similar_in_Kiswahili) 21 December 2020 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["IsiBheqe"](http://www.isibheqe.org). isibheqe.org. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-h930_10-0)** ["Papers of Emily Dora Earthy"](https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/17d9ff4a-209a-379b-8b01-a4adb2c6fc3b). *Jisc Archives Hub*. Retrieved 15 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-i268_11-0)** Earthy, E. Dora (1937). ["Folk-Stories of Gazaland, Portuguese East Africa, Part I"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/1257246). *Folklore*. **48** (2): 206–215. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0015-587X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-587X). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1257246](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1257246). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-j697_12-0)** Earthy, E. Dora (1937). ["Folk-Stories of Gazaland Portuguese East Africa, Part II"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/1257063). *Folklore*. **48** (3): 288–319. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0015-587X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-587X). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1257063](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1257063). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["AIDGLOBAL"](https://www.aidglobal.org/en/montra-solidaria/). *AIDGLOBAL*. Retrieved 16 December 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Junod, Henri (1913). ["Songs,"](https://archive.org/details/lifeofsouthafric02junouoft/page/166/mode/2up?view=theater) in *The Life of a South African Tribe: vol. 2, The Psychic Life.* pp. 167–190. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-z352_15-0)** Johnston, Thomas F. (1973). ["The Cultural Role of Tsonga Beer-Drink Music"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/767499). *Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council*. **5**: 132–155. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0316-6082](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0316-6082). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [767499](https://www.jstor.org/stable/767499). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-g474_16-0)** Johnston, Thomas F. (1973). ["Tsonga Children's Folksongs"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/539152). *The Journal of American Folklore*. **86** (341): 225–240. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0021-8715](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-8715). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [539152](https://www.jstor.org/stable/539152). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-f445_17-0)** Johnston, Thomas F. (1974). ["Secret Circumcision Songs of the Tsonga"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/26293182). *Anthropologie (1962-)*. **12** (3): 231–238. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0323-1119](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0323-1119). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [26293182](https://www.jstor.org/stable/26293182). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-y930_18-0)** Johnston, Thomas (1974). ["Secret Initiation Songs of the Shangana-Tsonga Circumcision Rite: A Textual and Musical Analysis"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/538969). *The Journal of American Folklore*. **87** (346): 328–339. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0021-8715](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-8715). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [538969](https://www.jstor.org/stable/538969). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-a460_19-0)** Johnston, Thomas F. (1979). ["Tsonga Rain Songs"](http://www.jstor.org/stable/1259601). *Folklore*. **90** (2): 234–240. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0015-587X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-587X). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1259601](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1259601). Retrieved 14 August 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-prov_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-prov_20-1) Junod, Henri (1913). ["Proverbial Sayings and Riddles,"](https://archive.org/details/lifeofsouthafric02junouoft/page/156/mode/2up?view=theater) in *The Life of a South African Tribe: vol. 2, The Psychic Life.* pp. 157–166. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Kaemmer, J.E. (1972). ["Tone Riddles from Southern Mozambique."](https://archive.org/details/formsoffolklorei0000unse/page/204/mode/1up?view=theater&q=kaemmer) Research in African Literatures. 3 (1): 5-20. Available at Internet Archive. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Junod, Henri (1931). *Quelques Proverbes Thonga.* Lausanne: Mission suisse dans l'Afrique du Sud. ## Further reading - van Wyk, E. B.; Odendal, F. F.; Nkatini, N. L. (2012) [1988], "Comparison between the phonetic systems of Afrikaans and Tsonga", *South African Journal of Linguistics*, **7** (1), [Taylor & Francis Group](/source/Taylor_%26_Francis_Group): 38–45, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/10118063.1989.9723787](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10118063.1989.9723787) ## External links ***[Tsonga edition](https://ts.wikipedia.org/wiki/)*** of [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia), the free encyclopedia Look up ***[Tsonga](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tsonga)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wikivoyage has a phrasebook for ***[Tsonga](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tsonga_phrasebook#Q34327)***. ### Software and localisation - [PanAfriL10n page on Tsonga](http://www.bisharat.net/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Tsonga) - [Tsonga on translatewiki.net](https://translatewiki.net/wiki/Portal:ts) - [Xitsonga Online Dictionary on Xitsonga.org](https://www.xitsonga.org) discontinued in January 2024. v t e Languages of Mozambique Official language Portuguese Indigenous languages Barwe Chewa Chichopi Chitonga Chuwabu Dema Gitonga Kimwani Koti Kunda Lomwe Maindo Makhuwa Makonde Makwe Manyika Nathembo Ndau Ngoni Nsenga Nyungwe Phimbi Ronga Sena Shona Swahili Swati Tawara Tewe Tsonga Tswa Yao Immigrant languages English Punjabi Hindi Sign languages Mozambican Sign Language v t e Languages of South Africa Pan South African Language Board Commission for Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Community Rights Department of Arts and Culture Official West Germanic Afrikaans English Southern Bantu Sotho–Tswana Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) Southern Sotho (Sesotho) Tswana (Setswana) Nguni Southern Ndebele (isiNdebele) Swazi (siSwati) Xhosa (isiXhosa) Zulu (isiZulu) Tswa–Ronga Tsonga (Xitsonga) Venda Venda (Tshivenḓa) North West European Sign Language British Sign Language (BSL) family SA Sign Language Recognised unofficial languages mentioned in the 1996 constitution Indigenous Bhaca Khoe Khoisan Lala Lozi Nama Nhlangwini Northern Ndebele Phuthi Tuu Foreign German Greek Gujarati Hindi Portuguese Malay (historical) Tamil Telugu Urdu Religious Arabic Hebrew Sanskrit Other LGBTQ slang Gayle IsiNgqumo Other Tsotsitaal and Camtho Oorlams Creole Fanagalo Pretoria Sotho Scamto Angloromani Kaaps v t e Languages of Eswatini Official languages English Swazi (Swati) Non-official languages Afrikaans Tsonga Zulu v t e Languages of Zimbabwe Official languages Zimbabwean English Chewa Chibarwe Kalanga Koisan Nambya Ndau Ndebele Shona Sotho Tonga Tsonga Tswana Venda Xhosa Zimbabwe Sign Unofficial languages Kunda Tswa Lozi Immigrant languages French Punjabi Hindi Chinese Portuguese v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) (by Guthrie classification) Zone N N10 N11 Manda N12 Ngoni N13 Matengo N14 Mpoto N15 Tonga [N101 Ndendeule N102 Nindi N121 Ngoni of Malawi N20 N21 Tumbuka [N201 Mwera of Mbamba Bay N30 N31a Nyanja N31b Cewa N31c Manganja N40 N41 Nsenga N42 Kunda N43 Nyungwe N44 Sena N45[44] Rue N46[44] Podzo [N441 Sena-Malawi Zone P P10 P11 Ndengereko P12 Ruihi P13 Matumbi P14 Ngindo P15 Mbunga P20 P21 Yao P22 Mwera P23 Makonde P24 Ndonde P25 Mabiha P30 P31 Makua P32 Lomwe P33 Ngulu P34 Cuabo [P311 Koti P312 Sakati P331 Lomwe of Malawi P341 Moniga Zone R R10 R11 Umbundu R12 Ndombe R13 Nyaneka R14 Khumbi [R101 Kuvale R102 Kwisi R103 Mbali R20 R21 Kwanyama R22 Ndonga R23 Kwambi R24 Ngandyera [R211 Kafima R212 Evale R213 Mbandja R214 Mbalanhu R215 Ndongwena R216 Kwankwa R217 Dombondola R218 Esinga R241 Kwaluudhi R242 Kolonkadhi-Eunda R30 R31 Herero [R311 North-West Herero R312 Botswana Herero R40 R41 Yei Zone S S10 S11 Korekore S12 Zezuru S13a Manyika S13b Tebe S14 Karanga S15 Ndau S16 Kalanga S20 S21 Venda S30 S31a Tswana S31b Kgatla S31c Ngwatu S31d[311] Khalaxadi S32a Pedi S32b Lobedu S33 Sotho [S301 Phalaborwa S302 Kutswe S303 Pai S304 Pulana S40 S41 Xhosa S42 Zulu S43 Swati S44 (Northern) Ndebele [S401 Old Mfengu S402 Bhaca S403 Hlubi S404 Phuthi S405 Nhlangwini S406 Lala S407 South Ndebele S408 Sumayela Ndebele S50 S51 Tswa S52[53] Gwamba S53 Tsonga S54 Ronga [S511 Hlengwe S60 S61 Copi S62 Tonga [S611 Lenge Italics indicate extinct languages. Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) Authority control databases National United States France BnF data Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tsonga language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.