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Common Shona to Kikongo phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Kikongo line out loud three times, then cover the Shona 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 Shona to Kikongo 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

    Mbote

  2. Ndatenda

    Mele

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    Mokolo mayele

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Mokolo ya ntango

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Mokolo ya mambu

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Mokolo ya mpembe

  7. Tichasangana gare gare

    Tala mosi

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Tata

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Nki yina nzo?

  10. Zita rangu ndiri John

    Nzo yami ke John

  11. Uri sei?

    Oko wanga?

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Nki ya mosi na yo

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    Oyo o zola kutu English? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka

    Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi. (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Handinzwisisi

    Nkeni kanga. (handinzwisisi)

  4. Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma

    Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi. (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    Oyo o zola kutu na mosi? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Chimbuzi chiripi?

    Kutu wapi banzela? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?

    Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Tendeuka kuruboshwe

    Tanda na luma. (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Tendeuka kurudyi

    Tanda na mambu. (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Enda mberi

    Enda na mosi. (enda mberi)

  11. Mari yechikwereti ingani?

    Nki mbongo ya ndako? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tikiti imwe, ndapota

    Ticket mosi, mokolo. (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Iko kure here kubva pano?

    Nki feti na wapi? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Ndakakanganiswa

    Nkeni zola. (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?

    Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ehe

    Ewe

  2. Kwete

    Te

  3. Pangove

    Kasi

  4. Ndinobvumirana

    Nkiadi

  5. Handibvumirane

    Nkiadi te

  6. Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    Oyo ke nkiadi malamu

  7. Unofungei?

    Nkiadi nini?

  8. Unogona kundibatsira here?

    Okanza kudi nki?

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Nkiadi kudi nki

  10. Mirira kwechinguva

    Lela na nki

  11. Ndine urombo

    Nkiadi na nki

  12. Hapana chakaipa

    Te na nki

  13. Makorokoto

    Tata na nki

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    Mokolo ya mbote

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    Tala na nzala ya malamu

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?

    Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo? (Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?)

  2. Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?

    Wana wanga na bus? (Wana wanga na bus?)

  3. Ndeipi puratifomu?

    Nki platform yai? (Nki platform yai?)

  4. Inobva nenguva ipi?

    Soki nki ntangu yina yenda? (Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?

    Yai ke nzila ya nki? (Yai ke nzila ya nki?)

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Eza na nsi ya nzo (Eza na nsi ya nzo)

  7. Iri kure nepano

    Eza na mosi ya nzo (Eza na mosi ya nzo)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?

    Okanisa ngai na mape? (Okanisa ngai na mape?)

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît (Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    Nki ntangu yina yenda? (Nki ntangu yina yenda?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Zvinodhura here?

    Nki yina kudi? (nki yina kudi)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

    Yina kele na nsi (yina kele na nsi)

  3. Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

    Ona kima ki nsi? (ona kima ki nsi)

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    Ncanza kudi na kadi? (ncanza kudi na kadi)

  5. Ndingada tafura yevaviri

    Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi (nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Kadi, ndakisa (kadi, ndakisa)

  7. Sevhisi iri mukati here?

    Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na? (kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)

  8. Ndiri muvegetarian

    Ndi muvegetari (ndi muvegetari)

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

    Kaka mfu, ndakisa (kaka mfu, ndakisa)

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    Yina kele na nsi (yina kele na nsi)

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    Ncanza na menu? (ncanza na menu)

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

    Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa (ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fonera mapurisa

    Landa boma

  2. Fonera amburensi

    Landa ambulance

  3. Ndiri kuda chiremba

    Nkeni mosi

  4. Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

    Nkeni na mbisi

  5. Ndine allergic kumapundu

    Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu

  6. Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

    Wana hospital ya mbote?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    Eka na nki

  8. Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

    Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai

  9. Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

    Olanda hotel na ngai?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    Tala!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

    Nzo ya kima (Nzò ya kima)

  2. Ngatirongei musangano

    Tukala na mbandu (Tukàla na mbàndu)

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

    Nki nsi ya ntangu? (Nki nsi ya ntángu?)

  4. Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

    Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu (Ndi zòla ku sendèla nsi ya lufùlu)

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

    Tukala na kanda se (Tukàla na kànda sè?)

  6. Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

    Tula nsi ya file ya kima (Tùla nsi ya file ya kima)

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

    Mosi na nsi ya ntangu (Mòsi na nsi ya ntángu)

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

    Ndi zola ku zola na yo (Ndi zòla ku zòla na yò)

  9. Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

    Nki o zola ku zola nki? (Nki o zòla ku zòla nki?)

  10. Ndichadzoka kwauri

    Ndi zola ku yindula na yo (Ndi zòla ku yìndula na yò)

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo (Nsi ya kima yìna nsi ya mposò)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndeipi nguva?

    Nkiadi ki zole? (Nkiadi ki zole?)

  2. Iri pa3

    Kikuma kinsatu (Kikuma kinsatu)

  3. Nhasi

    Lelo (N-ha-see)

  4. Mangwana

    Kuna (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Zuro

    Kima (Zoo-roh)

  6. Muvhuro

    Mokolo wa mbandu (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Chipiri

    Mokolo wa mosi (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Chitatu

    Mokolo wa ntete (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Imwe

    Mosi (Ee-mweh)

  10. Piri

    Mbale (Pee-ree)

  11. Tatu

    Mitatu (Tah-too)

  12. Gumi

    Kumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Kimo na nkama (Zah-nah)

  14. Hafu

    Nseke (Hah-foo)

  15. Zvimwe

    Nzo (Zvee-mweh)

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