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Common Shona to Mam phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Mam 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 Mam 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

    Xo'j (sho'j)

  2. Ndatenda

    Tz'ik (tz'ik)

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    Xo'j nax (sho'j nax)

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Xo'j q'ij (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Xo'j k'ux (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Xo'j k'ux nax (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. Tichasangana gare gare

    K'ux q'ij (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Xo'j k'ux (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Ja' k'ux nax? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Zita rangu ndiri John

    Ja' k'ux nax John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Uri sei?

    Jach' k'ux? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Nab' k'ux (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    ¿K'ax k'utun English? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka

    Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun. (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Handinzwisisi

    Nek'ux k'ax k'utun. (handinzwisisi)

  4. Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma

    Por favor, k'utun k'ux. (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Chimbuzi chiripi?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Tendeuka kuruboshwe

    K'utun k'ux. (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Tendeuka kurudyi

    K'utun k'ux. (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Enda mberi

    K'utun k'ux. (enda mberi)

  11. Mari yechikwereti ingani?

    ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tikiti imwe, ndapota

    K'utun ch'ich', por favor. (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Iko kure here kubva pano?

    ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Ndakakanganiswa

    Nek'ux k'ax k'ux. (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ehe

    Juj (hoo)

  2. Kwete

    Man (mah)

  3. Pangove

    K'ux (k'ush)

  4. Ndinobvumirana

    Juj k'ux (hoo k'ush)

  5. Handibvumirane

    Man k'ux (mah k'ush)

  6. Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    K'ux juj (k'ush hoo)

  7. Unofungei?

    ¿Juj k'ux k'ut? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. Unogona kundibatsira here?

    ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. Mirira kwechinguva

    K'ux k'ut (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Ndine urombo

    Juj k'ux k'ut (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Hapana chakaipa

    Man k'ux k'ut (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. Makorokoto

    K'ux juj k'ut (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    K'ux juj k'ut k'ux (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    K'ux juj k'ut k'ux (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?

    ¿Jujuk pa ri tren? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?

    ¿Jujuk pa ri bus? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Ndeipi puratifomu?

    ¿K'ux ri plataforma? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Inobva nenguva ipi?

    ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?

    ¿¿K'ux ri camino? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Ri k'ut pa ri. (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iri kure nepano

    Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul. (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?

    ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor? (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Zvinodhura here?

    K'ux k'ulub' ri'? (K'ux k'ulub' ri'?)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

    K'ux ri' k'ulub'? (K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)

  3. Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  5. Ndingada tafura yevaviri

    In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj? (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Ri' k'ulub', por favor (Ri' k'ulub', por favor)

  7. Sevhisi iri mukati here?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  8. Ndiri muvegetarian

    In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax (K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fonera mapurisa

    K'uxik la policía

  2. Fonera amburensi

    K'uxik un ambulancia

  3. Ndiri kuda chiremba

    Nek' a doctor

  4. Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

    K'utun k'ax

  5. Ndine allergic kumapundu

    Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

  6. Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

    Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    K'utun k'uxi' aquí

  8. Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

    Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

  9. Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

    ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    ¡Ayuda!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

    Chik'oj ch'ab'ej (chee-k'oh chahb'eh)

  2. Ngatirongei musangano

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al (kah-hee k'ah-wik ree kool-bahl)

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

    K'ut ri k'utal k'axik? (k'oot ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee)

  4. Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

    In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich' (een kah-hee ree kee-k'oh ch'eech')

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree kee-k'oh kahy)

  6. Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

    Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik (ch'ah-wik ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

    Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal (tzee-beh-eh ree k'oo-tahl)

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

    In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik (een kah-hee ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  9. Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree k'oo-tahl)

  10. Ndichadzoka kwauri

    K'axik in k'axik ch'awik (kah-hee een kah-hee ch'ah-wik)

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay (ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee kahy)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndeipi nguva?

    ¿K'ux ri'? (k'ux ri')

  2. Iri pa3

    K'ux ri' k'i'ik' (k'ux ri' k'i'ik')

  3. Nhasi

    Rij (rij)

  4. Mangwana

    Rij k'i'ik' (rij k'i'ik')

  5. Zuro

    Rij k'ux (rij k'ux)

  6. Muvhuro

    Rij k'ux k'ay (rij k'ux k'ay)

  7. Chipiri

    Rij k'ux k'ay k'i' (rij k'ux k'ay k'i')

  8. Chitatu

    Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax (rij k'ux k'ay k'ax)

  9. Imwe

    Jun (jun)

  10. Piri

    K'ij (k'ij)

  11. Tatu

    K'i'ik' (k'i'ik')

  12. Gumi

    Waq (waq)

  13. Zana

    Jun b'ix (jun b'ix)

  14. Hafu

    K'ux ri' k'ay (k'ux ri' k'ay)

  15. Zvimwe

    K'ux (k'ux)

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