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Common Nuer to Shona phrases

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

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

    Mhoro

  2. Nyaak

    Ndatenda

  3. Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Nhiar kɔ̈c

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Kɛ̈n

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?

    Uri sei?

  12. Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Nyaac ke nyin English?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Nyaac ma nyin.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Yin ke nyin kɛl.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Yin thok a kɛl?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Nyaac ke nyin a city center?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Yin ke nyin a laar.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Yin ke nyin a thok.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Yin ke nyin a kɛl?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Yin ke nyin a ticket.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Yin ke nyin a thok?

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

  14. Nyaac ke nyin.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Ehe

  2. Naa

    Kwete

  3. Nyaak

    Pangove

  4. Nyeek a kech

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Nyeek a kech naa

    Handibvumirane

  6. Iye kech kɛl

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Nyaak a kech?

    Unofungei?

  8. Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Kɛl a jɔɔr

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Nyeek a kech

    Ndine urombo

  12. Naa a kech kɛl

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Aye kɛl

    Makorokoto

  14. Aye kɛl a wɛr

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?

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

  2. Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?

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

  3. Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?

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

  6. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?

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

  9. Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?

    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. Nyaak cɛl?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Kɛl yic kɛc

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (kel yich kech)

  3. Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (yin kel nyin chel)

  4. Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (nyaak ter kel kech)

  5. Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)

  6. Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl

    Chikwereti, ndapota (nyaak chel kel bel)

  7. Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (yin kel chel kel ter)

  8. Nyaak cɛl wɛr

    Ndiri muvegetarian (nyaak chel wer)

  9. Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (nyaak chel kel wer kech)

  10. Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin

    Izvi zvinonaka (kel chel kel nyin)

  11. Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (nyaak chel kel men)

  12. Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (nyaak chel kel gel wet)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Cïl wïr

    Fonera mapurisa (cil wir)

  2. Cïl an ambulance

    Fonera amburensi (cil an ambulance)

  3. Aŋ thïr a doctor

    Ndiri kuda chiremba (ang thir a doctor)

  4. Aŋ kɔc

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara (ang koc)

  5. Aŋ kɔc a pïyït

    Ndine allergic kumapundu (ang koc a piyit)

  6. Cït kɛ̈n hospital?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara? (cit ken hospital)

  7. Cïk bɛ̈t

    Zvinorwadza pano (cik bet)

  8. Aŋ kɛ̈n passport

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu (ang ken passport)

  9. Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu? (ang ken cil my hotel)

  10. Kɛ̈n!

    Rubatsiro! (ken)

Work and business

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

  1. Nyeu ke nyin

    Ndinofara kukusangana (nyin = meet)

  2. Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nii rɛ̈ŋa?

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

  2. Nii kɛ̈l lɔk thɛ̈n.

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Nii rɛ̈ŋa

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l lɔk

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Dɛ̈n tɛ̈n

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Dɛ̈n kɛ̈l

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Dɛ̈n lɔk

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Kɛ̈l

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Lɔk

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Thɛ̈n

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Jɛ̈n

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Kɛ̈l jɛ̈n

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Nɛ̈ŋ

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Kɛ̈l lɔk

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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