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Common Chichewa to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Chichewa to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa 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 Chichewa 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 Chichewa 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. Moni

    Mhoro

  2. Zikomo

    Ndatenda

  3. M'mawa wabwino

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Masana abwino

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Madziwabwino

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Tiwonana

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Dzina lako ndi ndani?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Uri sei?

  12. Ndikufuna kukumana nanu

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Mukulankhula Chingerezi?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Sindikumva

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Pangani kumanzere

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Pangani kumanzere

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Pitani mwachindunji

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tiket imodzi, chonde

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?

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

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Inde

    Ehe

  2. Ayi

    Kwete

  3. Mwina

    Pangove

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Handibvumirane

  6. Zimakoma

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Mumaganiza chiyani?

    Unofungei?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Dikirani pang'ono

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndine urombo

  12. Palibe vuto

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Zikomo

    Makorokoto

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Pita bwino

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kuti ndi kuti sitima?

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

  2. Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?

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

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

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

  6. Ili pafupi pano

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Ili kutali pano

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?

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

  9. Khalani pano, chonde

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    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. Zimatenga ndalama zingati?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Chikonthe, chonde.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Ndine mvegetarian.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Izi ndizochuluka.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Ndingathe kupeza menyu?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani apolisi

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Ndikumva kutopa

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Kukonda apa

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Thandizani!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Ndzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi nthawi yanji?

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

  2. Ndi nthawi itatu.

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Lero

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Mawa

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Ch yesterday

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Lolemba

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Lachitatu

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Chimodzi

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Chiwiri

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Chitatu

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Kumi

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Pafupifupi

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Zambiri

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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