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Common Ndau to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Ndau to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Ndau 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: pick five Shona phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.

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

    Mhoro

  2. Ndatenda

    Ndatenda

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Tichasangana zvakare

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Zita rangu ndiJohn

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Uri sei?

    Uri sei?

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Handinzwisise.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Ndapota taura zvishoma.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Chimbuzi chiri kupi?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Pinda kuruboshwe.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Pinda kurudyi.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Enda mberi.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Mari yefare ingani?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tiketi imwe, ndapota.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Iko kure kubva pano?

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

  14. Ndakakanganiswa.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ehe

    Ehe

  2. Aih

    Kwete

  3. Pangani

    Pangove

  4. Ndakubvumirana

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Handibvumirani

    Handibvumirane

  6. Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Unofungei?

    Unofungei?

  8. Ungandibatsira here?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Mirira nguva shoma

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Ndineurombo

    Ndine urombo

  12. Hapana dambudziko

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Makorokoto

    Makorokoto

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere?

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

  2. Kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi?

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

  3. Ndeipi chikuva?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Ndeipi nguva inobva?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama?

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

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iri kure neapo

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu?

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

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    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. Zvinodhura sei?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru)

  3. Une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here)

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (ndingabhadhara nekadhi here)

  5. Ndinoda tafura yevasere

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (ndinoda tafura yevasere)

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Chikwereti, ndapota (chikwereti, ndapota)

  7. Sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here)

  8. Ndiri vegetarian

    Ndiri muvegetarian (ndiri vegetarian)

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota)

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    Izvi zvinonaka (izvi zvinonaka)

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (ndingawana menyu here)

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (girazi remvura, ndapota)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Dai foni mapurisa

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Dai foni amburensi

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Ndinoda chiremba

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Ndiri kurwara

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Ndine chiremera kumapudzi

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Hospitali iri kupi pedyo?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Ndakarasa pasipoti yangu

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Unogona here kufoniya hotera yangu?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Ngatironge musangano

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokufambira?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Ndichatumira mushumo nhasi

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Ndapota tsvaga faira rakabatanidzwa

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Ungajekesa iyo pfungwa here?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Regai ndidzoke kwamuri

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndeipi nguva?

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

  2. Iri paawa nhatu

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Nhasi

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Mangwana

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Nezuro

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Muvhuro

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Chipiri

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Chitatu

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Imwe

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Piri

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Nhatu

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Gumi

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Hafu

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Zvimwe

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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