Translate now

Common Rundi to Shona phrases

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

← Back to Rundi to Shona Translator

Looking for practical Rundi to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Rundi 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: when a Shona phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Rundi wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.

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

    Mhoro (na-kee)

  2. Urakoze

    Ndatenda (oo-rah-koh-zeh)

  3. Mwaramutse

    Mangwanani akanaka (mwa-rah-moot-seh)

  4. Mwiriwe

    Masikati akanaka (mwee-ree-weh)

  5. Mwiriwe

    Manheru akanaka (mwee-ree-weh)

  6. Ijoro ryiza

    Usiku hwakanaka (ee-jo-roh ree-zah)

  7. Nzakubona

    Tichasangana gare gare (nza-koo-boh-nah)

  8. Nuhagurane

    Sara zvakanaka (nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)

  9. Icyo witwa n'iki?

    Zita rako ndiani? (ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)

  10. Nitwa John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (nee-twah John)

  11. Umeze gute?

    Uri sei? (oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)

  12. Nishimiye kukumenya

    Ndinofara kukuziva (nee-shee-mee-yeh koo-koo-meh-nya)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Uravuga Icyongereza?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Sinavuga Hindi neza.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Sinumva.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Hindukira ibumoso.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Hindukira iburyo.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Genda imbere.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Igiciro ni igiki?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Birakomeye kuva hano?

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

  14. Ndi mu kaga.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Yego

    Ehe

  2. Oya

    Kwete

  3. Birashoboka

    Pangove

  4. Ndemera

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Ntidemera

    Handibvumirane

  6. Ivyo birashimishije

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Utekereza iki?

    Unofungei?

  8. Urashobora kumfasha?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Nkeneye gufasha

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Teza akanya

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Ndi umwiyahuzi

    Ndine urombo

  12. Nta kibazo

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Ishimwe

    Makorokoto

  14. Isabukuru nziza

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Urugendo rwiza

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Aho hantu y'igari?

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

  2. Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?

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

  3. Ihagararo ni irihe?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Igihe ni igiki gishika?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ubu ni bwo buryo?

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

  6. Birahari hafi

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Birahari kure

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?

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

  9. Hagarara hano, nyabuna

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Bifata igihe kingana iki?

    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. Iyi irahenda angahe?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Iyo irahenda cane

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. Ufise ikintu ciza cane?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Ibarura, ndakwinginze

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Serivisi irarimwo?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Iyi iraryoshye

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Terefona polisi

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Terefona ambulance

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Ndakeneye umuganga

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Ndumva ndarwaye

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Birandya hano

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Nabuze pasiporo yanje

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Mfasha!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Nishimiye kukumenya

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Tugire inama

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Igihe kiwukora?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Dushobora kuganira ejo?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Urakoze ku mwanya wawe

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Ntegereje gukorana nawe

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Woshobora gusobanura ico?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Ndemeye kubandanya

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Igihe ni igiki?

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

  2. Ni saa tatu.

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Uyu munsi.

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Ejo hazaza.

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Ejo.

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Kuwa mbere.

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Kuwa kabiri.

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Kuwa gatatu.

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Kimwe.

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Kabiri.

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Gatatu.

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Cumi.

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Ijana.

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Igice.

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Ikinshi.

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

Need to translate your own text? Use the free Rundi to Shona translator.

Open translator