Looking for practical Shona to Zapotec phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Zapotec translation (Zapotec) — 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 Zapotec.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Zapotec-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona to Zapotec 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
Díí(di'i)
Ndatenda
Güi(güi)
Mangwanani akanaka
Bëëna(bëëna)
Masikati akanaka
Bëëna xhí(bëëna xhi)
Manheru akanaka
Bëëna xhí(bëëna xhi)
Usiku hwakanaka
Bëëna dzaa(bëëna dzaa)
Tichasangana gare gare
Dáa xhí(daa xhi)
Sara zvakanaka
Díí xhí(di'i xhi)
Zita rako ndiani?
¿Náá xhí nè?(naa xhi ne)
Zita rangu ndiri John
Náá nè John(naa ne John)
Uri sei?
¿Náá xhí?(naa xhi)
Ndinofara kukuziva
Náá nè xhí(naa ne xhi)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
¿Ndi xquidxi inglés?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Ndi xquidxi hindi nisa(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
Ndi xquidxi nisa(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Ndi xquidxi xhíí xquidxi(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)