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Common Bemba to Shona phrases

100 practical Bemba to Shona phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Bemba to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba 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: read the Shona line out loud three times, then cover the Bemba side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba 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.

  1. Shani

    Mhoro

  2. Natotela

    Ndatenda

  3. Muli shani

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Muli shani

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Muli shani

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Shalenipo bwino

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Tukakutana

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Twalumba

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Iwe ulishani?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Ndefwaya John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Uli bwanji?

    Uri sei?

  12. Nashitasha kukumona

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Ndefwaya kumfwa

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Nimwandi ulukanda buteko

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ningaloleleko?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Ili kuti ikalamba?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ningalileka shani ku city center?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Fumya kumwendo

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Fumya kumwendo

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Enda pamo

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Kuli shani ifyabukata?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Ticket imwe, nomba

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Kuli lishilu ukulya?

    Iko kure here kubva pano? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Ndi lost

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Eya

    Ehe

  2. Awe

    Kwete

  3. Panga

    Pangove

  4. Ndi bwino

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Ndi bwino na

    Handibvumirane

  6. Ilyo lishibukile

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Uchite shani?

    Unofungei?

  8. Ushakufwa?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Leka ifi

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Nshakufwa

    Ndine urombo

  12. Takwaba shani

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Nshakufwa bwino

    Makorokoto

  14. Nashala bwino mu mwaka

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Ube na mulimo wabwino

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Ninshi ni platform iyi?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Ninshi ikalamba?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Ili pamo na pano.

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Ili lishilu na pano.

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Ushibukishe pa mape?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  9. Leka pano, chonde.

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Kuli shani?

    Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Ili shani?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Ili lya kuli

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Muli na chimo chibulu?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (Muli na chimo chibulu?)

  4. Ningakupanga na kadi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)

  6. Icilanga, tapali

    Chikwereti, ndapota (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Ubufyashi bwakupanga?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Ndi mvegetarian

    Ndiri muvegetarian (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)

  10. Ili lya bwino

    Izvi zvinonaka (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Ningakonda ifyalo?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Icupa ca mvula, tapali

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (Icupa ca mvula, tapali)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Tuma abashitisha

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Tuma ambulance

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Nshikala na doctor

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Nshikala bwino

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Ndi na allergy ku nsalu

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Kuli ububi pano

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Nashitile passport yangu

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Nawe tuma hotel yangu?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Chikondi!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Nashamukeni

    Ndinofara kukusangana (na-sha-mu-ke-ni)

  2. Tulefwaya ukusanga

    Ngatirongei musangano (tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)

  3. Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)

  4. Nizakutuma ifishina lelo

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)

  5. Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)

  6. Nomba fwebo file iliko

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)

  7. Natotela pa nshita

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)

  8. Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)

  9. Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)

  10. Nizakukumbusha

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)

  11. Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ninshi ilya shani?

    Ndeipi nguva? (N-dei-pi n-guh-wah?)

  2. Kuli nomba itatu.

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Lelo.

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Mwaume.

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Kale.

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Lwandi.

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Lwakabamba.

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Lwapili.

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Imwe.

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Ibili.

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Itatu.

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Icumi.

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Cikumi.

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Pafya.

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Ilyo.

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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