Translate now

Common Kanuri to Shona phrases

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

← Back to Kanuri to Shona Translator

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

    Mhoro

  2. Nagode

    Ndatenda

  3. Ina kwana

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Ina yamma

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Ina dare

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Sai da safe

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Zan ganka

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Sai anjima

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Menene sunanka?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Sunana John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Lafiya lau?

    Uri sei?

  12. Na ji dadin haduwa da kai

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Kuna magana da Turanci?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Ba na fahimta.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Ina wanka?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Juya hagu.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Juya dama.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Tafiya kai tsaye.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Nawa ne farashin?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Shin yana da nisa daga nan?

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

  14. Na ɓace.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Eey

    Ehe (ee-y)

  2. A'a

    Kwete (ah-ah)

  3. Wata

    Pangove (wah-tah)

  4. Na amu

    Ndinobvumirana (nah ah-moo)

  5. Na a'a amu

    Handibvumirane (nah ah-ah ah-moo)

  6. Iya na

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka (ee-yah nah)

  7. Kaya ka yi tunani?

    Unofungei? (kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)

  8. Za ka iya taimaka min?

    Unogona kundibatsira here? (zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)

  9. Na bukaci taimako

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro (nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)

  10. Duba dan lokaci

    Mirira kwechinguva (doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)

  11. Na yi hakuri

    Ndine urombo (nah yee hah-koo-ree)

  12. Babu matsala

    Hapana chakaipa (bah-boo maht-sah-lah)

  13. Taya murna

    Makorokoto (tah-yah moor-nah)

  14. Barka da haihuwa

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa (bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)

  15. Ka yi tafiya lafiya

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka (kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Nye boko na gari?

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

  2. Nye boko na bas?

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

  3. Wane boko na?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Wane lokaci ya tafi?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Shin wannan hanya ce?

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

  6. Yana kusa da nan

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Yana nesa da nan

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?

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

  9. Tsaida nan, don Allah

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Yaya tsawon lokaci?

    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. Nayi na kudi?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Ina so tebur don biyu.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Lissafi, don Allah.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Shin sabis ya haɗa?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Wannan yana da dadi.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Zan iya samun menu?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Kofin ruwa, don Allah.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Dawari janga

    Fonera mapurisa (Dawari janga)

  2. Dawari ambulan

    Fonera amburensi (Dawari ambulan)

  3. Ni na doctor

    Ndiri kuda chiremba (Ni na doctor)

  4. Ni na jaga

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara (Ni na jaga)

  5. Ni na haji goro

    Ndine allergic kumapundu (Ni na haji goro)

  6. Ina asibiti na kusa?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara? (Ina asibiti na kusa?)

  7. Yana ciwo a nan

    Zvinorwadza pano (Yana ciwo a nan)

  8. Ni na rasa passport na

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu (Ni na rasa passport na)

  9. Za ka iya dawari otel na?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu? (Za ka iya dawari otel na?)

  10. Taimako!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Nde gaishe

    Ndinofara kukusangana (nde gaishe)

  2. Mu gaishe taro

    Ngatirongei musangano (mu gaishe taro)

  3. Wai gaishe lokaci?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (wai gaishe lokaci)

  4. Zan tura rahoto yau

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (zan tura rahoto yau)

  5. Zamu iya magana gobe?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (zamu iya magana gobe)

  6. Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)

  7. Na gode da lokacinka

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (na gode da lokacinka)

  8. Ina fatan aiki tare da kai

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (ina fatan aiki tare da kai)

  9. Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)

  10. Bari in dawo gare ka

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (bari in dawo gare ka)

  11. Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nya kulu?

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

  2. Iye tati kulu

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Gurmi

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Biyu

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Kwanan

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Litinin

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Talata

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Laraba

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Daya

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Biyu

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tati

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Goma

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Dari

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Rabi

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Fiye

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

Need to translate your own text? Use the free Kanuri to Shona translator.

Open translator