Looking for practical Arabic (العربية) to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Arabic phrase first, then the Shona translation (Shona) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Shona.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Shona-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Arabic (العربية) to Shona translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
مرحبا
Mhoro(marhaban)
شكرا
Ndatenda(shukran)
صباح الخير
Mangwanani akanaka(sabah alkhayr)
مساء الخير
Masikati akanaka(masa' alkhayr)
مساء الخير
Manheru akanaka(masa' alkhayr)
تصبح على خير
Usiku hwakanaka(tusbih ala khayr)
أراك لاحقا
Tichasangana gare gare(arak lahikan)
وداعا
Sara zvakanaka(wada'an)
ما اسمك؟
Zita rako ndiani?(ma ismuk?)
اسمي جون
Zita rangu ndiri John(ismi John)
كيف حالك؟
Uri sei?(kayfa halak?)
تشرفت بلقائك
Ndinofara kukuziva(tasharaft biliqayk)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟
Unotaura Chirungu here?(unotaura chirungu here)
لا أتحدث الهندية جيدًا
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)