Tshivenda

Tshiven·da ˈven-də : a Bantu language spoken by a people of Northern province, Republic of South Africa. also : a member of this people.

One of the 12 official South African languages.
Also called Venḓa, Chienḓa, and Luenḓa.
Mother-tongue speakers: 1,301,400
Second language speakers: 1,700,000

Tshivenda, also known as Venda, is one of South Africa’s 12 official languages, predominantly spoken in the Limpopo Province near the border with Zimbabwe. It is the native language of the Venda people. Tshivenda belongs to the Bantu language family but is unique due to its distinct linguistic influences from the Shona language of Zimbabwe and the Sotho-Tswana languages of South Africa. It is known for its rich oral tradition, with proverbs, songs, and folktales playing a central role in preserving cultural heritage. The language is tonal, using pitch to distinguish meaning.

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Did you know?

Tshivenda uses the Latin alphabet but includes unique characters known as diacritics like ḓ and ṱ to represent specific sounds not found in English.
Tshivenda culture is closely tied to the Vhavenda royal family, and the language reflects a deep respect for hierarchy and tradition.
Lake Fundudzi, sacred to the Venda people, is associated with unique Tshivenda songs and rituals passed down through generations.
Tshivenda has a rich oral tradition, with storytelling, poetry, and proverbs central to conveying moral lessons and history.
Tshivenda is influenced by languages like Shona and Sotho, yet it retains a distinct identity that makes it unlike any other Bantu language.