A collection of useful phrases in Shona, a Bantu language spoken mainly in Zimbabwe.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| English | chiShona (Shona) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Mauya |
| Hello (General greeting) | Mhoro (sg) Mhoroi (pl) |
| How are you? | Wakadini zvako? (sg) Makadini zvenyu? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ndiri rayiti Ndiripo |
| Long time no see | Ko, vemakore! |
| What's your name? | Unonzani? (sg) Munonzani? (pl) |
| My name is ... | Ndinonzi ... Zita rangu i ... |
| Where are you from? | Unobva kupi? (sg) Munobva kupi?? (pl) |
| I'm from ... | Ndinobva ku ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndafara kukuziva (sg) Ndafara kukuzivai (pl) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Mangwanani Mangwanani, marara sei? (reply) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Masikati Masikati, maswera sei? (reply) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Manheru Maswera sei (reply) |
| Good night | Urare zvakanaka (sg) Murare Zvakanaka (pl) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Sara Zvakanaka (sg) Sariayi Zvakanaka (pl) |
| Good luck! | Uve nemhanza yakanaka (sg) Muve nemhanza yakanaka (pl) |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | Uve nezuva rakanaka (sg) Muve nezuva rakanaka (pl) |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Mudye kunaka Mafidyongo |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Ufambe zvakanaka (sg) Mufambe zvakanaka (pl) |
| Do you understand? | Munonzvisisa here? |
| I understand | Ndinonzvisisa |
| 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) |
| How do you say ... in Shona? | |
| Excuse me | Pamusoro (sg) Pamusoroyi (pl) |
| How much is this? | Chinoita marii? |
| Sorry | Ndineurombo |
| Thank you | Waita zvako (sg) Maita zvenyu (pl) |
| Reply to thank you | Unotendei? Zvakanaka |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Chimbuzi chiripi? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Baba ava ndivo vachabhadhara |
| This lady will pay for everything | Amai ava ndivo vachabhadhara |
| 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! | Ndibatsireiwo! |
| Fire! | Moto! |
| Stop! | Mira! |
| Call the police! | Daiidzayi mapurisa! |
| Christmas greetings | Muve nekisimusi |
| New Year greetings | Goredzva zvakanaka |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Uve nezuva rakanaka rekuzvarwa Uve nebhavhadhe rakanaka |
| Congratulations! | Makorokoto! |
| One language is never enough | Rurimi rumwe haruzadzikisa mutauro |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Hovercraft yangu yakazara nemikunga |
Shona phrases provided by Emma Thembani, Paida Magiga and Ernest Mdende
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Shona | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
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