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Common Dinka to Shona phrases

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

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

    Mhoro (yaaŋ)

  2. Ajak

    Ndatenda (ajak)

  3. Bäny äyö

    Mangwanani akanaka (bäny äyö)

  4. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Masikati akanaka (bäny kɛ̈l)

  5. Bäny nyin

    Manheru akanaka (bäny nyin)

  6. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Usiku hwakanaka (bäny kɛ̈l)

  7. Yin kɛ̈l

    Tichasangana gare gare (yin kɛ̈l)

  8. Yin kɛ̈l

    Sara zvakanaka (yin kɛ̈l)

  9. Nin kɛ̈l yïn?

    Zita rako ndiani? (nin kɛ̈l yïn?)

  10. Nin yïn John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (nin yïn John)

  11. Kɛ̈l yïn?

    Uri sei? (kɛ̈l yïn?)

  12. Bäny kɛ̈l yïn

    Ndinofara kukuziva (bäny kɛ̈l yïn)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Nyaac ke wic ku English?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Aye nyin kɔc.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Yin kɔc ke nyin.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Yin wic ke nyin?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Yin tɛŋ ke thok.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Kɛl thok, yin.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?

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

  14. Aye nyin thok.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Ehe

  2. Naa

    Kwete

  3. Cok

    Pangove

  4. Aye nyin

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Naa nyin

    Handibvumirane

  6. Käth aŋöör

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Käŋ aŋöör?

    Unofungei?

  8. Nyaŋ aŋöör?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Käŋ aŋöör

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Aye kɛ̈l

    Ndine urombo

  12. Naa kɛ̈l

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Makorokoto

  14. Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Käth aŋöör kuɔr

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Cïïr yïnë kël?

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

  2. Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?

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

  3. Këc yïnë kël?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Këc kël yïnë?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Këc yïnë kël wël?

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

  6. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?

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

  9. Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    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. Kuoth ke nyin?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)

  3. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)

  4. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)

  5. Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)

  6. Kɛ́l, please

    Chikwereti, ndapota (kɛ́l, please)

  7. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)

  8. Aye ke nyin a kɔc

    Ndiri muvegetarian (aye ke nyin a kɔc)

  9. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)

  10. Nyaak ke aŋɔr

    Izvi zvinonaka (nyaak ke aŋɔr)

  11. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)

  12. Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns

    Fonera amburensi

  3. A pɛɛr dɔkta

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. A jɛt kɔc

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. A lɔst pɑspɔt

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Yɛɛr!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Yin ke nyin

    Ndinofara kukusangana (Yin ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng

    Ngatirongei musangano (Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)

  3. Cieng nyin ke jieng?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (Cieng nyin ke jieng?)

  4. Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)

  5. Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)

  6. Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)

  7. Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)

  8. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)

  9. Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)

  10. Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)

  11. Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Cïŋ ke cïŋ?

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

  2. Cïŋ kɛɛŋ thok

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Kɛ̈th

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈l

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈n

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Nyi̱ŋ

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈l

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈n

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Cïŋ

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Dɛ̈l

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Thok

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Cɛ̈l

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Cïŋ kɛ̈l

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈l

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Kɛ̈l

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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