Looking for practical Shona to Papiamento phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Papiamento translation (Papiamento) — 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 Papiamento.
Tip: when a Papiamento 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 Papiamento 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
Halo
Ndatenda
Dank'i
Mangwanani akanaka
Bon dia
Masikati akanaka
Bon tardi
Manheru akanaka
Bon nochi
Usiku hwakanaka
Bon nochi
Tichasangana gare gare
Hasta luego
Sara zvakanaka
Ayo
Zita rako ndiani?
Kiko ta bo nòmber?
Zita rangu ndiri John
Mi nòmber ta John
Uri sei?
Kon ta bai?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Dushi pa konosé bo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Bo ta papia Ingles?(Bo ta papia Ingles?)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Mi no ta papia Hindi bon(Mi no ta papia Hindi bon)
Handinzwisisi
Mi no ta komprondé(Mi no ta komprondé)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Por fabor, papia lentamente(Por fabor, papia lentamente)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?(Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Unda ta e baño?(Unda ta e baño?)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?(Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Duna ku left(Duna ku left)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Duna ku right(Duna ku right)
Enda mberi
Bai straight(Bai straight)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Kantu ta e tarifa?(Kantu ta e tarifa?)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Un tiket, por fabor(Un tiket, por fabor)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Ta leu for di aki?(Ta leu for di aki?)
Ndakakanganiswa
Mi ta perdo(Mi ta perdo)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?(Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Si
Kwete
No
Pangove
Quizás
Ndinobvumirana
Mi ta akordá
Handibvumirane
Mi no ta akordá
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Esaki ta suena bon
Unofungei?
Kiko bo ta pensa?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Bo por yuda mi?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Mi mester yuda
Mirira kwechinguva
Spera un momentu
Ndine urombo
Mi ta diskulpa
Hapana chakaipa
No tin problema
Makorokoto
Felicidades
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Feliz cumpleaños
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Ten un viahe seguro
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Unda ta e stasyon di tren?(Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Unda ta e parada di bus?(Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Kual plataforma ta?(Ndeipi puratifomu?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Kico ora e ta bai?(Inobva nenguva ipi?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Esaki ta e manera correctu?(Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)
Iri pedyo pano
E ta cerca aki(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
E ta leu for di aki(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Poei mostra mi na e mapa?(Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Para aki, por fabor(Mira pano, ndapota)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Kantu tempu e ta tuma?(Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Kiko ta e precio di esaki?(Zvinodhura here?)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Esaki ta demasiado caro.
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Bo tin algo mas barato?
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Porke mi por paga ku tarjeta?
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
Mi ke un mesa pa dos.
Chikwereti, ndapota
E cuenta, por fabor.
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
E servicio ta inkludí?
Ndiri muvegetarian
Mi ta vegetariano.
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
No komida picante, por fabor.
Izvi zvinonaka
Esaki ta sabroso.
Ndingawana menyu here?
Porke mi por tin e menu?
Girazi remvura, ndapota
Un bashi di awa, por fabor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Llama polis
Fonera amburensi
Llama un ambulansia
Ndiri kuda chiremba
Mi mester un doktor
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
Mi ta sinti mal
Ndine allergic kumapundu
Mi ta alergiko pa maní
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Unda ta e hospital mas cercano?
Zvinorwadza pano
Ta doli aki
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
Mi a perde mi pasaporte
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
Bo por llama mi hotel?
Rubatsiro!
Yuda!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Bon dii pa conoce bo
Ngatirongei musangano
Deja nos programa un reuníon
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Kiko ora ta bon pa bo?
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
Mi ta manda e report di awor
Tingataure mangwana here?
Por ta papia mañan?
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Por fabor, haya e file anexa
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Danki pa bo tempo
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Mi ta spera pa traha ku bo
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
Bo por klarifica esaki?
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Deja mi a volve na bo
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
E deadline ta dia dushi
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.