Looking for practical Shona to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Krio-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona to Krio 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.
Mhoro
Hello
Ndatenda
Tenki
Mangwanani akanaka
Gud mɔnin
Masikati akanaka
Gud aftanun
Manheru akanaka
Gud ivnin
Usiku hwakanaka
Gud nait
Tichasangana gare gare
Si yu leta
Sara zvakanaka
Bai
Zita rako ndiani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Zita rangu ndiri John
Ma neym na John
Uri sei?
Ow yu de?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Yu sabi English?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
A no sabi Hindi well.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
A no sabi.(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Plis, tok slow.(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Yu fit tok dat again?(ungazvitaura zvakare here)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Weh na di toilet?(chimbuzi chiripi)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?(ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Turn left.(tendeuka kuruboshwe)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Turn right.(tendeuka kurudyi)
Enda mberi
Go straight.(enda mberi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Ow much na di fare?(mari yechikwereti ingani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
One ticket, plis.(tikiti imwe, ndapota)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
E far from ya?(iko kure here kubva pano)
Ndakakanganiswa
A don lost.(ndakakanganiswa)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?(ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Yes
Kwete
No
Pangove
Maybe
Ndinobvumirana
A mi agree
Handibvumirane
A no agree
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Dat na fine
Unofungei?
Wet in you tink?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
You fit help me?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
A need help
Mirira kwechinguva
Wait small
Ndine urombo
A sorry
Hapana chakaipa
No problem
Makorokoto
Congratulations
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Happy birthday
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Weh na di train station?(Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Weh na di bus stop?(Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Which platform na im?(Ndeipi puratifomu?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Wetin time e go lef?(Inobva nenguva ipi?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Dis na di right way?(Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)
Iri pedyo pano
E dey near here(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
E far from here(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Stop here, pliz(Mira pano, ndapota)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
How long e go tek?(Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
How much dis cost?(Zvinodhura here?)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Dat too expensive.
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
I fit pay by card?
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
I wan table for two.
Chikwereti, ndapota
Di bill, please.
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Service dey include?
Ndiri muvegetarian
I na vegetarian.
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
No spicy food, please.
Izvi zvinonaka
Dis dey sweet.
Ndingawana menyu here?
I fit get di menu?
Girazi remvura, ndapota
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Call di police
Fonera amburensi
Call ambulance
Ndiri kuda chiremba
A need doctor
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
A dey feel sick
Ndine allergic kumapundu
A get allergy for peanuts
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Zvinorwadza pano
E dey pain here
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
A don lose mi passport
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
You fit call mi hotel?
Rubatsiro!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Na nice for meet you
Ngatirongei musangano
Make we plan wan meeting
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
A go send di report tiday
Tingataure mangwana here?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Abeg find di file wey attach
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Tenki for your time
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
A dey look forward for work with you
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
You fit clarify dat point?
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Make I get back to you
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.