Looking for practical Shona to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: when a Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Ndatenda
O seun(oh shayoon)
Mangwanani akanaka
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Masikati akanaka
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Manheru akanaka
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Usiku hwakanaka
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Tichasangana gare gare
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Sara zvakanaka
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Zita rako ndiani?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Zita rangu ndiri John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Uri sei?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Ndinofara kukuziva
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Handinzwisisi
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Enda mberi
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Ndakakanganiswa
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Bẹẹni
Kwete
Rara
Pangove
Bóyá
Ndinobvumirana
Mo gba
Handibvumirane
Mo kọ
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Iyẹn dára
Unofungei?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Mirira kwechinguva
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Ndine urombo
Mo bínú
Hapana chakaipa
Kò sí ìṣòro
Makorokoto
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Iri pedyo pano
O sunmọ ibi yi(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
O jinna si ibi yi(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Duro nibi, jọwọ(Mira pano, ndapota)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?(Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Chikwereti, ndapota
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Ndiri muvegetarian
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Izvi zvinonaka
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Ndingawana menyu here?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Girazi remvura, ndapota
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Fonera amburensi
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Ndiri kuda chiremba
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Ndine allergic kumapundu
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Zvinorwadza pano
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Rubatsiro!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Ngatirongei musangano
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
Tingataure mangwana here?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Ndatenda nenguva yako
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.