Local Dishes

1. Vuswa

   Vuswa (stiff porridge, pap)

   Usage

   The stiff porridge that is the staple of the Tsonga, eaten with a relish

   Grammar Note

   The main dish in the Tsonga Wikipedia article on Tsonga food; it is usually described as a porridge of maize or other grain

2. Vuswa hi byona swakudya xidzi swa Vatsonga

   Pap is the main food of the Tsonga people

   Usage

   A sentence for explaining the dish or talking about Tsonga food culture

   Grammar Note

   A sentence from the Tsonga Wikipedia article on Tsonga food (with Vatsonga capitalised). "xidzi" is used there in the sense of main or staple

3. Xixevo

   Xixevo (relish eaten with porridge)

   Usage

   The vegetable or meat dish eaten with porridge; "xixevo xa khavichi" is a cabbage relish

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia captions a photo of porridge with a cabbage relish as "xixevo xa khavichi". The Cuénod dictionary also describes it as a gravy, meat or vegetable dish

4. Miroho

   Miroho (greens)

   Usage

   Greens and vegetables eaten with porridge

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia article on "muroho" describes it as eaten with porridge, bread or rice; "miroho" is the plural

5. Matsavu

   Matsavu (vegetables)

   Usage

   The word for vegetables, as in a description of curry

   Grammar Note

   FLORES has it in "nyama kumbe matsavu" (meat or vegetables)

6. Guxe

   Guxe (okra)

   Usage

   A vegetable used in relishes eaten with porridge

   Grammar Note

   In the Tsonga Wikipedia, a photo of okra carries the caption "Guxe"; it is listed among the vegetables eaten with porridge

7. Timanga

   Timanga (groundnuts)

   Usage

   Groundnuts, added to many traditional Tsonga dishes

   Grammar Note

   FLORES uses it for peanuts and nuts, and Wikipedia describes them as added to vegetable relishes. It is given here in the plural

8. Xinghwimbi

   Xinghwimbi (pumpkin with ground groundnuts)

   Usage

   An old Tsonga dish made from pumpkin and ground groundnuts

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia calls it a popular food of the old Tsonga. The Cuénod dictionary spells it "xingwimbi" and describes young pumpkin with ground groundnuts

9. Kwembe

   Kwembe (pumpkin)

   Usage

   Pumpkin, used in relishes and for its seeds

   Grammar Note

   "makwembe" (plural) appears in the Tsonga Wikipedia in the passage on storing seeds; the singular is in Wiktionary

10. Xigugu

    Xigugu (peanut butter)

    Usage

    A paste of ground groundnuts, a favourite of the Tsonga

    Grammar Note

    The Tsonga Wikipedia says "Xigugu kumbe botere ya timanga" (xigugu, or peanut butter) and calls it a favourite of the Tsonga

11. Matamani

    Matamani (edible mopane caterpillars)

    Usage

    Edible caterpillars of the mopane tree, a local food in Limpopo

    Grammar Note

    A headword in the Cuénod dictionary, glossed as the edible caterpillars of the mopani tree. It has no second source, so check with a local before relying on it

12. Swidongodi

    Swidongodi (edible caterpillars)

    Usage

    A kind of edible caterpillar, listed among traditional relishes

    Grammar Note

    The Tsonga Wikipedia lists "swidongodi" among relishes. The singular "xidongodi" is glossed in the Cuénod dictionary as an edible caterpillar found in sweet potato

13. Matshutshu

    Matshutshu (whole boiled maize grains)

    Usage

    Maize boiled whole, grain by grain

    Grammar Note

    A headword in the Cuénod dictionary glossed as maize grains boiled whole. It has no second source; if it is not understood, fall back on "mavele" (maize)

14. Biltong

    Biltong (dried meat strips)

    Usage

    Dried strips of meat, a popular snack in South Africa

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from Afrikaans; the Tsonga Wikipedia has an article "I-Biltong". The Cuénod dictionary has the verb "venga", to cut meat into strips

15. Ndzi lava ku dya vuswa na miroho

    I want to eat pap with greens

    Usage

    A sentence for asking for the traditional combination at a restaurant or at home

    Grammar Note

    Composed from verified words (composed). "lava ku + verb" means want to; "dya" means eat and occurs in the Wikipedia example "Vafana va dya vuswa" (the boys eat pap)

Browse all TravelPhrases languages