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Common Somali to Shona phrases

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

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

Tip: pick five Shona phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.

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

    Mhoro

  2. Mahadsanid

    Ndatenda

  3. Subax wanaagsan

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Duhur wanaagsan

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Habeen wanaagsan

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Habeen wanaagsan

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Ilaa dambe

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Nabad gelyo

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Magacaa maxay tahay?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Magacaygu waa John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Sidee tahay?

    Uri sei?

  12. Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Hindi si fiican uma hadlo

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Ma fahmin

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ma ku celin kartaa?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Bidix u leexo

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Midig u leexo

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Toos u soco

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Hal tigidh, fadlan

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Ma fog tahay halkan?

    Iko kure here kubva pano? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Waan lumay

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Haa

    Ehe

  2. Maya

    Kwete

  3. Malaha

    Pangove

  4. Waan ku raacsanahay

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Waan ku raacsaneyn

    Handibvumirane

  6. Taasi waa wax fiican

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Maxaad u malaynaysaa?

    Unofungei?

  8. Ma i caawin kartaa?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Sug daqiiqad

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Waan ka xumahay

    Ndine urombo

  12. Dhib malahan

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Hambalyo

    Makorokoto

  14. Dhalasho wacan

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Safar wanaagsan

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Xagee buu tareenka jooga?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Xagee buu basaska jooga?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Keenka sidee buu yahay?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Goormee ayuu baxayaa?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ma tan saxda ah?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Waa halkan u dhow

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Waa halkan fog

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  9. Halkan joog, fadlan

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?

    Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. Ma haysta wax ka jaban?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Ma bixin karaa kaarka?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Fadlan, biilka.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Tani waa macaan.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Ma heli karaa menu?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Fadlan, koob biyo ah.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Wac booliiska

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Wac ambalaas

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Caawimaad!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Aan qorshayno kulan

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Aan ku soo laabto

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Waa imisa saac?

    Ndeipi nguva? (N-dei-pi n-guh-wah?)

  2. Waa seddex saac

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Maanta

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Berri

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Shalay

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Isniin

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Talaado

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Arbaco

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Hal

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Laba

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Seddex

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Toban

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Boqol

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Nus

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Aynu

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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