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Common Mam to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Mam to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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: read the Shona line out loud three times, then cover the Mam side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Mam 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. Xo'j

    Mhoro (sho'j)

  2. Tz'ik

    Ndatenda (tz'ik)

  3. Xo'j nax

    Mangwanani akanaka (sho'j nax)

  4. Xo'j q'ij

    Masikati akanaka (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Xo'j k'ux

    Manheru akanaka (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Xo'j k'ux nax

    Usiku hwakanaka (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. K'ux q'ij

    Tichasangana gare gare (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Xo'j k'ux

    Sara zvakanaka (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Ja' k'ux nax?

    Zita rako ndiani? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Ja' k'ux nax John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Jach' k'ux?

    Uri sei? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Nab' k'ux

    Ndinofara kukuziva (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. ¿K'ax k'utun English?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Por favor, k'utun k'ux.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. ¿Jach'och k'ux?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. K'utun k'ux.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. K'utun k'ux.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. K'utun k'ux.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. K'utun ch'ich', por favor.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?

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

  14. Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Juj

    Ehe (hoo)

  2. Man

    Kwete (mah)

  3. K'ux

    Pangove (k'ush)

  4. Juj k'ux

    Ndinobvumirana (hoo k'ush)

  5. Man k'ux

    Handibvumirane (mah k'ush)

  6. K'ux juj

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka (k'ush hoo)

  7. ¿Juj k'ux k'ut?

    Unofungei? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?

    Unogona kundibatsira here? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. K'ux k'ut

    Mirira kwechinguva (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Juj k'ux k'ut

    Ndine urombo (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Man k'ux k'ut

    Hapana chakaipa (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. K'ux juj k'ut

    Makorokoto (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. ¿Jujuk pa ri tren?

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

  2. ¿Jujuk pa ri bus?

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

  3. ¿K'ux ri plataforma?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. ¿¿K'ux ri camino?

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

  6. Ri k'ut pa ri.

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?

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

  9. ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?

    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. K'ux k'ulub' ri'?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. K'ux ri' k'ulub'?

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)

  3. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  4. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  5. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  6. Ri' k'ulub', por favor

    Chikwereti, ndapota (Ri' k'ulub', por favor)

  7. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  8. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    Ndiri muvegetarian (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  9. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  10. K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    Izvi zvinonaka (K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  11. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  12. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. K'uxik la policía

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. K'uxik un ambulancia

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Nek' a doctor

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. K'utun k'ax

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. K'utun k'uxi' aquí

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. ¡Ayuda!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Chik'oj ch'ab'ej

    Ndinofara kukusangana (chee-k'oh chahb'eh)

  2. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al

    Ngatirongei musangano (kah-hee k'ah-wik ree kool-bahl)

  3. K'ut ri k'utal k'axik?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (k'oot ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee)

  4. In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich'

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (een kah-hee ree kee-k'oh ch'eech')

  5. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree kee-k'oh kahy)

  6. Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (ch'ah-wik ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  7. Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (tzee-beh-eh ree k'oo-tahl)

  8. In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (een kah-hee ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  9. K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree k'oo-tahl)

  10. K'axik in k'axik ch'awik

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (kah-hee een kah-hee ch'ah-wik)

  11. Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee kahy)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. ¿K'ux ri'?

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

  2. K'ux ri' k'i'ik'

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Rij

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Rij k'i'ik'

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Rij k'ux

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Rij k'ux k'ay

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Rij k'ux k'ay k'i'

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Jun

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. K'ij

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. K'i'ik'

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Waq

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Jun b'ix

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. K'ux ri' k'ay

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. K'ux

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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