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Common Shona to Chichewa phrases

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

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Looking for practical Shona to Chichewa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Chichewa translation (Chichewa) — 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 Chichewa.

Tip: when a Chichewa phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Shona 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 Shona to Chichewa 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

    Moni

  2. Ndatenda

    Zikomo

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    M'mawa wabwino

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Masana abwino

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Madziwabwino

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Tichasangana gare gare

    Tiwonana

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Dzina lako ndi ndani?

  10. Zita rangu ndiri John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Uri sei?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Ndikufuna kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    Mukulankhula Chingerezi? (Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka

    Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino (Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)

  3. Handinzwisisi

    Sindikumva (Sindikumva)

  4. Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma

    Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono (Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri? (Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)

  6. Chimbuzi chiripi?

    Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi? (Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)

  7. Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?

    Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda? (Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)

  8. Tendeuka kuruboshwe

    Pangani kumanzere (Pangani kumanzere)

  9. Tendeuka kurudyi

    Pangani kumanzere (Pangani kumanzere)

  10. Enda mberi

    Pitani mwachindunji (Pitani mwachindunji)

  11. Mari yechikwereti ingani?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (Ndi ndalama zingati?)

  12. Tikiti imwe, ndapota

    Tiket imodzi, chonde (Tiket imodzi, chonde)

  13. Iko kure here kubva pano?

    Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano? (Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)

  14. Ndakakanganiswa

    Ndakhalapo (Ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?

    Ndingatengere kuti SIM card? (Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ehe

    Inde

  2. Kwete

    Ayi

  3. Pangove

    Mwina

  4. Ndinobvumirana

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Handibvumirane

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    Zimakoma

  7. Unofungei?

    Mumaganiza chiyani?

  8. Unogona kundibatsira here?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Mirira kwechinguva

    Dikirani pang'ono

  11. Ndine urombo

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Hapana chakaipa

    Palibe vuto

  13. Makorokoto

    Zikomo

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    Pita bwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?

    Kuti ndi kuti sitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?

    Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Ndeipi puratifomu?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Inobva nenguva ipi?

    Ndi nthawi iti imatenga? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Ili pafupi pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iri kure nepano

    Ili kutali pano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?

    Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    Khalani pano, chonde (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Zvinodhura here?

    Zimatenga ndalama zingati? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

    Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.

  3. Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

    Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?

  5. Ndingada tafura yevaviri

    Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Chikonthe, chonde.

  7. Sevhisi iri mukati here?

    Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?

  8. Ndiri muvegetarian

    Ndine mvegetarian.

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

    Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    Izi ndizochuluka.

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    Ndingathe kupeza menyu?

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

    Galasi ya madzi, chonde.

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fonera mapurisa

    Fufuzani apolisi

  2. Fonera amburensi

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ndiri kuda chiremba

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

    Ndikumva kutopa

  5. Ndine allergic kumapundu

    Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

  6. Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

    Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    Kukonda apa

  8. Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

    Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

  9. Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

    Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu

  2. Ngatirongei musangano

    Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

    Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?

  4. Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

    Ndzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

    Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?

  10. Ndichadzoka kwauri

    Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndeipi nguva?

    Ndi nthawi yanji? (N-dei-pi n-guh-wah?)

  2. Iri pa3

    Ndi nthawi itatu. (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Nhasi

    Lero (N-ha-see)

  4. Mangwana

    Mawa (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Zuro

    Ch yesterday (Zoo-roh)

  6. Muvhuro

    Lolemba (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Chipiri

    Lachiwiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Chitatu

    Lachitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Imwe

    Chimodzi (Ee-mweh)

  10. Piri

    Chiwiri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tatu

    Chitatu (Tah-too)

  12. Gumi

    Kumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Hafu

    Pafupifupi (Hah-foo)

  15. Zvimwe

    Zambiri (Zvee-mweh)

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