Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs
Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
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 appetit | Pamusoroyi |
| 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) |
| Unotendei? / Zvakanaka | |
| Where's the toilet? | Chimbuzi chiripi? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything |
Baba ava ndivo vachabhadhara (gentleman) Amai ava ndivo vachabhadhara (lady) |
| 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! |
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year |
Muve nekisimusi ne goredzva zvakanaka |
| 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 and Paida Magiga
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me.