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Common Xhosa to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Xhosa to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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: read the Shona line out loud three times, then cover the Xhosa side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.

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

    Mhoro

  2. Enkosi

    Ndatenda

  3. Ubusuku obuhle

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Ubusuku obuhle

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Ubusuku obuhle

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Lala ngoxolo

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Ndiza kubonana kamva

    Tichasangana gare gare

  8. Hamba kakuhle

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Ngubani igama lakho?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Igama lam nguJohn

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  11. Unjani?

    Uri sei?

  12. Kuhle ukukwazi

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Uthetha isiNgesi?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Andiqondi

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Nceda thethe kancinci

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ungakuphinda lokho?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Iphi ibhafu?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Jolisa kwesokunxele

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Jolisa kwesokudla

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Hamba ngqo

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Iholo ingakanani?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Ithikithi elinye, nceda

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Ingakanani ukusuka apha?

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

  14. Ndilahlekile

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ewe

    Ehe

  2. Hayi

    Kwete

  3. Mhlawumbi

    Pangove

  4. Ndiyavuma

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Andivumi

    Handibvumirane

  6. Okuhle

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Ucinga ntoni?

    Unofungei?

  8. Ungandinceda?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Ndidinga uncedo

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Linda umzuzu

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Ndicela uxolo

    Ndine urombo

  12. Akukho ngxaki

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Wamkelekile

    Makorokoto

  14. Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?

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

  2. Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?

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

  3. Yeyiphi iphondo?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?

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

  6. Ikho kufutshane apha

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Ikude apha

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?

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

  9. Misa apha, nceda

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?

    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. Ithini le mali?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Le mali ibiza kakhulu.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. Unayo into engabizi?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Ibhili, nceda.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Ndiyavegetarian.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Oku kumnandi.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Ndingafumana imenyu?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Ingxube ye water, nceda.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Biza uphondo

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Biza i-ambulensi

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Ndifuna ugqirha

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Ndiziva ndingalunganga

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Kubuhlungu apha

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Ungabiza ihotele yam?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Uncedo!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Kuhle ukukwazi

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Masihlele umhlangano

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Singathetha ngomso?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Enkosi ngexesha lakho

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Ungacacisa le ndawo?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Yintoni ixesha?

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

  2. Iiyure ezintathu

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Namhlanje

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Manga

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Izolo

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Mvulo

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Lwesibini

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Lwesithathu

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Ene

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Mbini

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Thathu

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Ishumi

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Ishumi elinye

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Umgama

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Ngaphezulu

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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