Ndi masiari
The Venda phrase for "good afternoon" is Ndi masiari.
Ndi masiari is used as a greeting during the afternoon hours.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "It is afternoon", where Ndi means "It is" and masiari means "afternoon".
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the English construction "good afternoon", which uses an adjective, Ndi masiari is a complete sentence used to convey the greeting.
Did you know?
- Venda is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying masiari can potentially change the nuance of the greeting.
- In some Venda communities, it is considered impolite to walk past someone in the afternoon without acknowledging them with a greeting like Ndi masiari.
- The word masiari refers specifically to the midday heat and the period when the sun is highest, rather than just a block of time on a clock.
Examples in context
- Ndi masiari, vhone!Good afternoon to you!
Example conversation
Ndivhuwo and Tshilidzi meet on the street during the day.
- NdivhuwoNdi masiari, Tshilidzi.Good afternoon, Tshilidzi.
- TshilidziNdi masiari, Ndivhuwo.Good afternoon, Ndivhuwo.
- NdivhuwoVho vuwa hani?How are you?
- TshilidziNdi tshi vhuya vhudi.I am doing well.
