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Common Malagasy to Shona phrases

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

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

    Mhoro

  2. Misaotra

    Ndatenda

  3. Salama maraina

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Salama tolakandro

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Salama hariva

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Alina tsara

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Hizara indray

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Veloma

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Inona no anaranao?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Ny anarako dia John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Inona ny vaovao?

    Uri sei?

  12. Faly mihaona aminao

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Miteny anglisy ve ianao?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Tsy azoko

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Azafady, miteny moramora

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Azonao averina ve izany?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Aiza ny trano fidiovana?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Mivadika ankavia

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Mivadika ankavanana

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Mandehana mivantana

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tapakila iray, azafady

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Lavitra ve izany avy eto?

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

  14. Very very

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Eny

    Ehe

  2. Tsia

    Kwete

  3. Angamba

    Pangove

  4. Manaiky aho

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Tsy manaiky aho

    Handibvumirane

  6. Tsara izany

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Inona ny hevitrao?

    Unofungei?

  8. Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Mila fanampiana aho

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Miandrasa kely

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Miala tsiny aho

    Ndine urombo

  12. Tsy olana

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Arahabaina

    Makorokoto

  14. Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Mandehana soa aman-tsara

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Aiza ny gara?

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

  2. Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?

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

  3. Iza ny sehatra?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Amin'ny firy no miala izy?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ity ve ny làlana marina?

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

  6. Eto akaiky izy.

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Lavitra eto izy.

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?

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

  9. Mijanona eto, azafady.

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?

    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. Ohatrinona ity?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Maharitra be loatra izany

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (maharitra be loatra izany)

  3. Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (manana zavatra mora ve ianao)

  4. Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)

  5. Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)

  6. Ny faktiora, azafady

    Chikwereti, ndapota (ny faktiora, azafady)

  7. Misy ny serivisy ve?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (misy ny serivisy ve)

  8. Vegetariana aho

    Ndiri muvegetarian (vegetariana aho)

  9. Aza misy sakafo maharary, azafady

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (aza misy sakafo maharary, azafady)

  10. Tsara be ity

    Izvi zvinonaka (tsara be ity)

  11. Afaka mahazo ny menu ve aho?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (afaka mahazo ny menu ve aho)

  12. Rano iray vera, azafady

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (rano iray vera, azafady)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Antsoy ny polisy

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Antsoy ny ambulance

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Mila dokotera aho

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Mahatsapa ho marary aho

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Misy allergie amin'ny voanjo aho

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Aiza ny hopitaly akaiky indrindra?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Maharary eto

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Very ny pasipaoroko

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Azonao atao ve ny miantso ny hotelyko?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Vonjeo!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Faly mihaona aminao

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Andao handamina fivoriana

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Inona ny ora mety aminao?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Halehoko ny tatitra anio

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Afaka miresaka ve isika rahampitso?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Azafady, jereo ny rakitra mifandray

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Misaotra anao noho ny fotoananao

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Manantena ny hiara-hiasa aminao

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Azonao hazavaina ve io teboka io?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Avelao aho hiverina aminao

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Ny daty farany dia ny zoma

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Inona ny ora?

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

  2. Telo ora

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Anio

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Rahampitso

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Omaly

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Alatsinainy

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Talata

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Alarobia

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Iray

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Roa

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Telo

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Folo

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Zato

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Ampahany

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Betsaka

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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