Looking for practical Shona to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Tetum translation (Tetum) — 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 Tetum.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tetum-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona to Tetum 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
Olá
Ndatenda
Obrigadu
Mangwanani akanaka
Bondia
Masikati akanaka
Bona tarde
Manheru akanaka
Bona noite
Usiku hwakanaka
Bona noite
Tichasangana gare gare
Ami hanesan
Sara zvakanaka
Adeus
Zita rako ndiani?
Quale naran ida?
Zita rangu ndiri John
Naran hau John.
Uri sei?
Kona ba o?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Keta fala Inglês?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Hau la fala Hindi diak.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
Hau la hatene.(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Favor fala ba moris.(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Keta bele fala fali?(ungazvitaura zvakare here)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Onde mak banheira?(chimbuzi chiripi)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?(ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Virar ba hadau.(tendeuka kuruboshwe)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Virar ba direita.(tendeuka kurudyi)
Enda mberi
Baa diretamente.(enda mberi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Iha ne'e barak?(mari yechikwereti ingani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Ticket ida, favor.(tikiti imwe, ndapota)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Iha ne'e laran ka?(iko kure here kubva pano)
Ndakakanganiswa
Hau nune'e.(ndakakanganiswa)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?(ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Sim
Kwete
La
Pangove
Talvez
Ndinobvumirana
Hau hakarak
Handibvumirane
Hau la hakarak
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Nia mak diak
Unofungei?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Hau precisa ajuda
Mirira kwechinguva
Hakarak momentu
Ndine urombo
Hau mós
Hapana chakaipa
La problema
Makorokoto
Parabens
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Parabens ba aniversario
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Iri pedyo pano
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Iri kure nepano
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Esa mak baratu demais.
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Chikwereti, ndapota
Fatu, por favor.
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Servisu iha ka?
Ndiri muvegetarian
Hau vegetarian.
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Izvi zvinonaka
Esa mak saboru.
Ndingawana menyu here?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Girazi remvura, ndapota
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Liga ba polícia
Fonera amburensi
Liga ba ambulansia
Ndiri kuda chiremba
Hau precisa doutor
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
Hau sente sick
Ndine allergic kumapundu
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Zvinorwadza pano
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
Hau hasai passport
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Rubatsiro!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Ngatirongei musangano
Kita halo reunião
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Tingataure mangwana here?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Hau sei volta ba ita
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.