Help finish a free Xitsonga–English dictionary for all

A language deserves a home online

Tsonga is spoken by millions of South Africans, yet there are very few free, reliable places to look up a word, check a meaning, or learn how a phrase is used. Printed dictionaries are old, hard to find and out of reach for most learners. We are building one that anyone with a phone can use, free of charge.

What we have already done

We took a historic English–Tsonga dictionary and carefully turned every page into a searchable digital form, without losing a single character of the original. That work is done:

• 11,861 English entries

• 27,422 Tsonga words and phrases

• 55,987 meanings, each linked back to the original page

• 96 traditional proverbs (swivuriso)

We've also built the website itself: search in both directions, words grouped by topic, idioms and proverbs, saved word lists, and a way for speakers to suggest new words and corrections.

What your gift makes possible

A computer can copy a dictionary, but only people who know the language can make sure it is right. 2,951 words are flagged for review, and every entry needs a fluent speaker to confirm it before it goes live. Your donation goes to:

• Expert review (R45,000): paying Tsonga language experts to check, correct and approve entries, starting with the flagged words.

• Pronunciation audio (R20,000): recording native speakers so learners can hear each word, not just read it.

• Running costs (R15,000): two years of hosting so the dictionary stays online and free.

• Schools and communities (R12,000): workshops with teachers and elders to collect words the old dictionary never had.

• Buffer (R8,000): platform fees and unexpected costs.

Why it matters

When a language is hard to look up, children stop using it at school, and families lose words that have been passed down for generations. A free, accurate dictionary helps learners, teachers, translators and anyone who wants to reconnect with their home language.

Ririmi i ndzhaka. Language is our inheritance.

How you can help

Every rand counts: R50 covers the review of several words, and R500 pays for a full recording session. If you can't give right now, please share this page with someone who speaks, teaches or loves Tsonga.

We'll post updates here as entries are reviewed and recordings go live, so you can see exactly what your gift built.