Looking for practical NKo to Ndau phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the NKo phrase first, then the Ndau translation (Ndau) — 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 Ndau.
Tip: read the Ndau line out loud three times, then cover the NKo 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 NKo to Ndau 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.
ᎣᏍᏆ
Mhoro(Oscha)
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ
Ndatenda(Ascadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ
Mangwanani akanaka(Oscha Edodhi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ
Masikati akanaka(Oscha Atsachadi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ
Manheru akanaka(Oscha Dagadudi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ
Usiku hwakanaka(Oscha Datsicha)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ
Tichasangana zvakare(Oscha Dagadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ
Sara zvakanaka(Oscha Danodi)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?
Zita rako ndiani?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ
Zita rangu ndiJohn(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?
Uri sei?(Hisch Hisch?)
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ
Ndinofara kukuziva(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Unotaura Chirungu here?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߓߊ߬
Handinzwisise.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Ndapota taura zvishoma.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Chimbuzi chiri kupi?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Pinda kuruboshwe.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Pinda kurudyi.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Enda mberi.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Mari yefare ingani?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Tiketi imwe, ndapota.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Iko kure kubva pano?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Ndakakanganiswa.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Ndingatenga kupi SIM card?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ehe
𞤈𞤢𞤣
Aih
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Pangani
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢
Ndakubvumirana
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Handibvumirani
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Unofungei?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ungandibatsira here?
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Mirira nguva shoma
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Ndineurombo
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Hapana dambudziko
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Makorokoto
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.