Tsonga language facts for kids

Tsonga
Changana Xitsonga
Native to	Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe
Region	Limpopo, Mpumalanga
Native speakers	3.7 million  (2006)
Language family	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Southern Bantu Tswa–Ronga? Tsonga
Official status
Official language in	South Africa
Guthrie code	S.53 (S.52)
Linguasphere	99-AUT-dc incl. varieties 99-AUT-dca... -dcg

Tsonga is a language of Bantu origin spoken primarily in South Africa and Mozambique. It is also known as Changana or Xangana.

Text example

The Lord's Prayer written in Tsonga:

Tata wa hina la nge matilweni,

vito ra wena a ri hlawuleke;

a ku te ku fuma ka wena;

ku rhandza ka wena a ku endliwe misaveni,

tanihi loko ku endliwa tilweni.

U hi nyika namuntlha vuswa bya hina bya siku rin'wana ni rin'wana;

u hi rivalela swidyoho swa hina,

tanihi loko na hina hi rivalela lava hi dyohelaka;

u nga hi yisi emiringweni,

kambe u hi ponisa eka Lowo biha,

Amen.

Images for kids

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  [ʃikwʼɛmbu]

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