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Common Shona to Xhosa phrases

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

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

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Xhosa-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona to Xhosa 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

    Molo

  2. Ndatenda

    Enkosi

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    Ubusuku obuhle

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Ubusuku obuhle

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Ubusuku obuhle

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Lala ngoxolo

  7. Tichasangana gare gare

    Ndiza kubonana kamva

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Hamba kakuhle

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Ngubani igama lakho?

  10. Zita rangu ndiri John

    Igama lam nguJohn

  11. Uri sei?

    Unjani?

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Kuhle ukukwazi

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    Uthetha isiNgesi? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka

    Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Handinzwisisi

    Andiqondi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma

    Nceda thethe kancinci (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    Ungakuphinda lokho? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Chimbuzi chiripi?

    Iphi ibhafu? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?

    Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Tendeuka kuruboshwe

    Jolisa kwesokunxele (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Tendeuka kurudyi

    Jolisa kwesokudla (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Enda mberi

    Hamba ngqo (enda mberi)

  11. Mari yechikwereti ingani?

    Iholo ingakanani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tikiti imwe, ndapota

    Ithikithi elinye, nceda (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Iko kure here kubva pano?

    Ingakanani ukusuka apha? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Ndakakanganiswa

    Ndilahlekile (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?

    Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ehe

    Ewe

  2. Kwete

    Hayi

  3. Pangove

    Mhlawumbi

  4. Ndinobvumirana

    Ndiyavuma

  5. Handibvumirane

    Andivumi

  6. Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    Okuhle

  7. Unofungei?

    Ucinga ntoni?

  8. Unogona kundibatsira here?

    Ungandinceda?

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Ndidinga uncedo

  10. Mirira kwechinguva

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Ndine urombo

    Ndicela uxolo

  12. Hapana chakaipa

    Akukho ngxaki

  13. Makorokoto

    Wamkelekile

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?

    Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?

    Uphi umphakathi weebhasi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Ndeipi puratifomu?

    Yeyiphi iphondo? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Inobva nenguva ipi?

    Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?

    Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Ikho kufutshane apha (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iri kure nepano

    Ikude apha (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?

    Ungandibonisa kwiimeko? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    Misa apha, nceda (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    Ithatha ixesha elingakanani? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Zvinodhura here?

    Ithini le mali? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

    Le mali ibiza kakhulu.

  3. Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

    Unayo into engabizi?

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?

  5. Ndingada tafura yevaviri

    Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Ibhili, nceda.

  7. Sevhisi iri mukati here?

    Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?

  8. Ndiri muvegetarian

    Ndiyavegetarian.

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

    Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    Oku kumnandi.

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    Ndingafumana imenyu?

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

    Ingxube ye water, nceda.

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fonera mapurisa

    Biza uphondo

  2. Fonera amburensi

    Biza i-ambulensi

  3. Ndiri kuda chiremba

    Ndifuna ugqirha

  4. Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

    Ndiziva ndingalunganga

  5. Ndine allergic kumapundu

    Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

  6. Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

    Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    Kubuhlungu apha

  8. Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

    Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

  9. Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

    Ungabiza ihotele yam?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    Uncedo!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

    Kuhle ukukwazi

  2. Ngatirongei musangano

    Masihlele umhlangano

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

    Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?

  4. Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

    Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

    Singathetha ngomso?

  6. Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

    Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

    Enkosi ngexesha lakho

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

    Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe

  9. Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

    Ungacacisa le ndawo?

  10. Ndichadzoka kwauri

    Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndeipi nguva?

    Yintoni ixesha? (Yin-toh-nee ikh-leh-zah?)

  2. Iri pa3

    Iiyure ezintathu (Ee-yoo-reh e-zin-tah-thu)

  3. Nhasi

    Namhlanje (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Mangwana

    Manga (Man-gah)

  5. Zuro

    Izolo (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Muvhuro

    Mvulo (M-vu-lo)

  7. Chipiri

    Lwesibini (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Chitatu

    Lwesithathu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Imwe

    Ene (Eh-neh)

  10. Piri

    Mbini (M-bee-nee)

  11. Tatu

    Thathu (Thah-thu)

  12. Gumi

    Ishumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Ishumi elinye (Ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-yeh)

  14. Hafu

    Umgama (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Zvimwe

    Ngaphezulu (Ngah-peh-zulu)

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