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Common Krio to Shona phrases

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

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

    Mhoro

  2. Tenki

    Ndatenda

  3. Gud mɔnin

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Gud aftanun

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Gud ivnin

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Gud nait

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Si yu leta

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Bai

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Wetɛn na yu neym?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Ma neym na John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Ow yu de?

    Uri sei?

  12. Naes fo mit yu

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Yu sabi English?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. A no sabi Hindi well.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. A no sabi.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Plis, tok slow.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Yu fit tok dat again?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Weh na di toilet?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ow A go fit reach di city center?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Turn left.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Turn right.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Go straight.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Ow much na di fare?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. One ticket, plis.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. E far from ya?

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

  14. A don lost.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Weh A go fit buy SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Yes

    Ehe

  2. No

    Kwete

  3. Maybe

    Pangove

  4. A mi agree

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. A no agree

    Handibvumirane

  6. Dat na fine

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Wet in you tink?

    Unofungei?

  8. You fit help me?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. A need help

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Wait small

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. A sorry

    Ndine urombo

  12. No problem

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Congratulations

    Makorokoto

  14. Happy birthday

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Get safe trip

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Weh na di train station?

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

  2. Weh na di bus stop?

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

  3. Which platform na im?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Wetin time e go lef?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Dis na di right way?

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

  6. E dey near here

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. E far from here

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Yu fit show me pan di map?

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

  9. Stop here, pliz

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. How long e go tek?

    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. How much dis cost?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Dat too expensive.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. You get anytin wey cheaper?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. I fit pay by card?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. I wan table for two.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Di bill, please.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Service dey include?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. I na vegetarian.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. No spicy food, please.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Dis dey sweet.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. I fit get di menu?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. A glass of water, please.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Call di police

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Call ambulance

    Fonera amburensi

  3. A need doctor

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. A dey feel sick

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. A get allergy for peanuts

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Weh di nearest hospital de?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. E dey pain here

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. A don lose mi passport

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. You fit call mi hotel?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Help!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Na nice for meet you

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Make we plan wan meeting

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Wetin time go work for you?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. A go send di report tiday

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. We go fit talk tomorrow?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Abeg find di file wey attach

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Tenki for your time

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. A dey look forward for work with you

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. You fit clarify dat point?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Make I get back to you

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Di deadline na Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Wetin na di taim?

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

  2. E na tri o'clock

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Tudeh

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Tomo

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Yestideh

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Mandeh

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Tuzdeh

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Wenesdeh

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Wan

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Tu

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tri

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Ten

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Wan hunda

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Haf

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Mo

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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