Phrases |
'Useful' phrases |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Language-related proverbs
A collection of useful phrases in Shona. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| English | chiShona (Shona) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Mauya |
| Hello | Mhoro (sg) Mhoroi (pl) |
| How are you? I'm fine, thanks. And you? |
Wakadini zvako? (sg) Makadini zvenyu? (pl) |
| Ndiripo | |
| Long time no see | Ko, vemakore! |
| What's your name? My name is ... |
Unonzani? (sg) Munonzani? (pl) |
| Ndinonzi... / Zita rangu i..... | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... |
Unobva kupi? (sg) Munobva kupi?? (pl) |
| Ndinobva ku... | |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndafara kukuziva (sg) Ndafara kukuzivai (pl) |
| Good morning | Mangwanani / Mangwanani, marara sei? (reply) |
| Good afternoon | Masikati / Masikati, maswera sei? (reply) |
| Good evening | Manheru / Maswera sei (reply) |
| Good night | Urare zvakanaka (sg) Murare Zvakanaka (pl) |
| Goodbye | Sara Zvakanaka (sg) Sariayi Zvakanaka (pl) |
| Good luck | Uve nemhanza yakanaka (sg) Muve nemhanza yakanaka (pl) |
| Have a nice day | Uve nezuva rakanaka (sg) Muve nezuva rakanaka (pl) |
| Bon voyage | Ufambe zvakanaka (sg) Mufambe zvakanaka (pl) |
| I don't understand | Handisi kunyaso nzwisisa |
| Please speak more slowly | Ndinokumbirawo kuti musakurumidze kutaura |
| Please say that again | Ndinokumbirawo kuti muzvitaure futi |
| Please write it down | Ndinokumbirawo kuti muzvinyore pasi |
| Do you speak ...? | Unotaura ...? (sg) Munotaura ...? (pl) |
| Excuse me | Pamusoro (sg) Pamusoroyi (pl) |
| How much is this? | Chinoita marii? |
| Sorry | Ndineurombo |
| Thank you Response |
Waita zvako (sg) Maita zvenyu (pl) |
| Ndizvozvo | |
| Where's the toilet? | Chimbuzi chiripi? |
| Would you like to dance with me? |
Ungande kutamba? (sg) Mungade kutamba? (pl) |
| I love you | Ndinokuda! |
| Get well soon | Ndinovimba kuti uchakurumidza kupora (sg) Ndinovimba kuti muchakurumidza kupora (pl) |
| Leave me alone! | Ndisiye!! |
| Help! Fire! Stop! |
Ndibatsireiwo! Moto! Mira! |
| Call the police! | Daiidzayi mapurisa! |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Hovercraft yangu yakazara nemikunga |
Shona phrases provided by Emma Thembani
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me.
Information about the Shona language
Sesotho, Shona, Swahili, Xhosa, Yorùbá, Zulu
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