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Common Tamazight to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Tamazight to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tamazight 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Shona-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tamazight 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. Azul

    Mhoro (azul)

  2. Tanemmirt

    Ndatenda (tanemmirt)

  3. Sbah lkhir

    Mangwanani akanaka (sbah lkhir)

  4. Nhar lkhir

    Masikati akanaka (nhar lkhir)

  5. Mrahba

    Manheru akanaka (mrahba)

  6. Lila saïda

    Usiku hwakanaka (lila saïda)

  7. Nqra wul

    Tichasangana gare gare (nqra wul)

  8. Besslama

    Sara zvakanaka (besslama)

  9. Mekka isem-ik?

    Zita rako ndiani? (mekka isem-ik)

  10. Isem-iyi John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (isem-iyi John)

  11. Mekka tzemre?

    Uri sei? (mekka tzemre)

  12. Safi nniḍen

    Ndinofara kukuziva (safi nniḍen)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Tzziɣ ad tḥeddar ɣef l'anglais?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Ur tḥeddar ɣef l'hindi d-ɣer

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Ur nḥemmer

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. S'il te plaît, tḥeddar ssiɣ

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ma tḥeddar aḥiḍ?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Wul is tazart?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Mara ad nḥemmleḍ ɣef l'midant?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Tzziɣ ɣef l'berra

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Tzziɣ ɣef l'yem

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Ssaḍ ɣef l'ḥeqq

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Mara d-ḥeqq ɣef l'khedma?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Ticket waḥid, s'il te plaît

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Ma d-ɣer ɣef wul?

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

  14. Nek d-ɣer

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Wul aḍ nḍiḍ SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ih

    Ehe

  2. Ula

    Kwete

  3. Mekkan

    Pangove

  4. Nekni d ameqran

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Ula d ameqran

    Handibvumirane

  6. Ala yid ihi

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Ma yid ihi?

    Unofungei?

  8. Ma tzemregh ad tazmert-iyi?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Nekni d tazmert

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Ssa ad tzemregh

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Nekni d ameksa

    Ndine urombo

  12. Ula d tazmert

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Tawuri

    Makorokoto

  14. Aslema n tazmert

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Suffi d amezruy n tazmert

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Wulaw n tizi n taddart?

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

  2. Wulaw n tizi n bus?

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

  3. Mara tizi?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Aman yebda?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ihi, d wayen n tazmert?

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

  6. Ihi, d amezwaru

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Ihi, d tazmert

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Ttawwi t-wali di tmazirt?

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

  9. Ssa di tazmert, s'il te plaît

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Mara yebda?

    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. Iḥed nniḍen?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Aḍu yella aḥil

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (aḍu yella aḥil)

  3. Ma yella ḥeqq nniḍen?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (ma yella ḥeqq nniḍen)

  4. Nekki nḥed n wigi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (nekki nḥed n wigi)

  5. Nekki nḥeb tazrigt n ddus

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (nekki nḥeb tazrigt n ddus)

  6. Iḍeḍ, lla yella

    Chikwereti, ndapota (iḍeḍ, lla yella)

  7. Ma yella tazrigt?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (ma yella tazrigt)

  8. Nekki d vegetarian

    Ndiri muvegetarian (nekki d vegetarian)

  9. Ula d akken, lla yella

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (ula d akken, lla yella)

  10. Aḍu yella amezruy

    Izvi zvinonaka (aḍu yella amezruy)

  11. Nekki nḥeb tazrigt?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (nekki nḥeb tazrigt)

  12. Aḍu n waman, lla yella

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (aḍu n waman, lla yella)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Ssi l-police

    Fonera mapurisa (ssi l-police)

  2. Ssi l-ambulance

    Fonera amburensi (ssi l-ambulance)

  3. Nekkin doctor

    Ndiri kuda chiremba (nekkin doctor)

  4. Nekkin yid

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara (nekkin yid)

  5. Nekkin agdud n tazart

    Ndine allergic kumapundu (nekkin agdud n tazart)

  6. Wul is-sid n uḍar?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara? (wul is-sid n uḍar)

  7. Ihdden hna

    Zvinorwadza pano (ihdden hna)

  8. Rraḍt pasport-i

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu (rraḍt pasport-i)

  9. Ma tssi l-hotel-i?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu? (ma tssi l-hotel-i)

  10. Ayd!

    Rubatsiro! (ayd)

Work and business

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

  1. Aḥlan, tḥemmleḍ

    Ndinofara kukusangana (Ahlan, thammled)

  2. Neddu yid n tazmert

    Ngatirongei musangano (Neddu id n tazmert)

  3. Mā yid tḥemmleḍ?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (Ma id thammled?)

  4. Nekka ad ssin yid n tazmert lḥeqq

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (Nekka ad ssin id n tazmert lhaqq)

  5. Nekka nḥeddru g tomorrow?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (Nekka nhedru g tomorrow?)

  6. S'il te plaît, ḥeḍḍa yid n file

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (Sil te plait, hedha id n file)

  7. Tanemmirt i wakkas n tazrigt

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (Tanemmirt i wakkas n tazrigt)

  8. Nekka nḥemmel ad nḥeddru s'k

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (Nekka nhemel ad nhedru s'k)

  9. Ma tḥemmleḍ aḥḍar yid?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (Ma thammled ahdar id?)

  10. Nekka ad nḥemmel ḍi s'k

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (Nekka ad nhemel di s'k)

  11. Tazmert n timeḍi d Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (Tazmert n timidi d Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Walu tazrigt?

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

  2. Tazrigt tga tlat

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Lḥeṛ

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Ssa

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Azzul

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Yemmes

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Yemmes n tazart

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Yemmes n tazrigt

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Yid

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Sin

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tlat

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Mraw

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Miyaz

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Nniḍ

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Iḍen

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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