Looking for practical NKo to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the NKo 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 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 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.
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 gare gare(Oscha Dagadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ
Sara zvakanaka(Oscha Danodi)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?
Zita rako ndiani?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ
Zita rangu ndiri John(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?(unotaura chirungu here)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)