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Common Fon to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Fon to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon 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: when a Shona phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Fon wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.

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

    Mhoro (nɔ́)

  2. Mèdɔ́

    Ndatenda (mèdɔ́)

  3. Mèdɔ́ agblɔ

    Mangwanani akanaka (mèdɔ́ agblɔ)

  4. Mèdɔ́ ɖe

    Masikati akanaka (mèdɔ́ ɖe)

  5. Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe

    Manheru akanaka (mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)

  6. Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ

    Usiku hwakanaka (mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)

  7. Nɔ́ wɛ

    Tichasangana gare gare (nɔ́ wɛ)

  8. Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe

    Sara zvakanaka (nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)

  9. Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?

    Zita rako ndiani? (nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)

  10. Mè nɔ́ John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (mè nɔ́ John)

  11. Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?

    Uri sei? (nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)

  12. Mèdɔ́ nɔ́

    Ndinofara kukuziva (mèdɔ́ nɔ́)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Mè n'kó nù.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Mè s'kà yé nù?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Èwé n'kà dɔ́?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Tò n'kà kè.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Tò n'kà pɔ́.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Lè n'kà kè.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Kí n'kà dɔ́?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Èwé n'kà mɛ́?

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

  14. Mè n'kà nɔ́.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ɛ

    Ehe (e)

  2. Ayi

    Kwete (ayi)

  3. Mɛ

    Pangove (me)

  4. Mè yé

    Ndinobvumirana (me ye)

  5. Mè n'yi

    Handibvumirane (me n'yi)

  6. N'kɔ nɔ

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka (n'ko no)

  7. N'kɔ a kɔ?

    Unofungei? (n'ko a ko)

  8. I n'kɔ mɛ?

    Unogona kundibatsira here? (i n'ko me)

  9. Mè n'kɔ mɛ

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro (me n'ko me)

  10. Tɔ́ nɔ

    Mirira kwechinguva (to no)

  11. Mè nɔ n'kɔ

    Ndine urombo (me no n'ko)

  12. Ayi n'kɔ

    Hapana chakaipa (ayi n'ko)

  13. Mè nɔ wé

    Makorokoto (me no we)

  14. Mè nɔ tɔ́

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa (me no to)

  15. N'kɔ a wé dɔ

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka (n'ko a we do)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. N'ye wé train station?

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

  2. N'ye wé bus stop?

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

  3. Ké platform na?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Ké sa a yé?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. N'ye wé yé na?

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

  6. Yé na hɛn

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Yé na hɛn gbo

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?

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

  9. Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Ké sa a yé?

    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. Mè wé na?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Sè wé bɔ́?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Yè wé sɔ́.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́

    Fonera mapurisa (nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́)

  2. Nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans

    Fonera amburensi (nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans)

  3. Mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́

    Ndiri kuda chiremba (mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́)

  4. Mè tɔ́ dɔ́

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara (mè tɔ́ dɔ́)

  5. Mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́

    Ndine allergic kumapundu (mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́)

  6. Fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara? (fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?)

  7. A hùn nɔ́

    Zvinorwadza pano (a hùn nɔ́)

  8. Mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu (mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́)

  9. Kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu? (kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?)

  10. Sè!

    Rubatsiro! (sè!)

Work and business

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

  1. Mè wá nɔ́

    Ndinofara kukusangana (Me wa no)

  2. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Ngatirongei musangano (Me to no ko so)

  3. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (No ko so ko?)

  4. Mè yé sɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (Me ye so no ko bo)

  5. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́ kɔ́

    Tingataure mangwana here? (Me to no ko bo ko)

  6. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ nɔ́

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (Me to no ko so no)

  7. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (Me to no ko no)

  8. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (Me to no ko so)

  9. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (No ko so ko?)

  10. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (Me to no ko so)

  11. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (No ko so ko)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nukon wé?

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

  2. Wé hã tã

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Ayi

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Mèbè

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Ayi gbo

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Lundi

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Mardi

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Mercredi

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Yin

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Hè

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tã

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Dè

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Yin hã

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Mè

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Hè hã

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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