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Common Yoruba to Shona phrases

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

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Looking for practical Yoruba to Shona phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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. Bawo

    Mhoro (bawoh)

  2. O seun

    Ndatenda (oh shayoon)

  3. E kaaro

    Mangwanani akanaka (eh kah-roh)

  4. E kaasan

    Masikati akanaka (eh kah-sahn)

  5. E kuurole

    Manheru akanaka (eh koo-roh-leh)

  6. O daaro

    Usiku hwakanaka (oh dah-roh)

  7. A ri e laipe

    Tichasangana gare gare (ah ree eh lie-peh)

  8. O dabọ

    Sara zvakanaka (oh dah-boh)

  9. Kí ni orukọ rẹ?

    Zita rako ndiani? (kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)

  10. Orukọ mi ni John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (oh-roo-koh mee nee John)

  11. Bawo ni?

    Uri sei? (bawoh nee)

  12. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Ndinofara kukuziva (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.

  1. Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Mi ò ye mi

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Nibo ni baluwe wa?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Yí si apa osi

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Yí si apa otun

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Lọ taara

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Elo ni owo ọkọ?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Ticket kan, jọwọ

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?

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

  14. Mo ti sọnù

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Bẹẹni

    Ehe

  2. Rara

    Kwete

  3. Bóyá

    Pangove

  4. Mo gba

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Mo kọ

    Handibvumirane

  6. Iyẹn dára

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?

    Unofungei?

  8. Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Dákẹ́ díẹ̀

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Mo bínú

    Ndine urombo

  12. Kò sí ìṣòro

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí

    Makorokoto

  14. Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?

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

  2. Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?

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

  3. Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?

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

  6. O sunmọ ibi yi

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. O jinna si ibi yi

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?

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

  9. Duro nibi, jọwọ

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?

    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. Elo ni eyi?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (eyi je gbowo pupo)

  3. Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (se o ni nkan to rorun)

  4. Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)

  5. Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (mo fe tabili fun meji)

  6. Iwe isanwo, jọwọ

    Chikwereti, ndapota (iwe isanwo jowo)

  7. Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (se ise wa ninu)

  8. Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ

    Ndiri muvegetarian (mo je onje efo)

  9. Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (ko si onje to ni ika jowo)

  10. Eyi dára

    Izvi zvinonaka (eyi dara)

  11. Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (se mo le ni atojo onje)

  12. Gilaasi omi, jọwọ

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (gilaasi omi jowo)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Pe iroyin ọlọpa

    Fonera mapurisa (pe iroyin olopa)

  2. Pe ambulance

    Fonera amburensi (pe ambulance)

  3. Mo nilo dokita

    Ndiri kuda chiremba (mo nilo dokita)

  4. Mo n ni irora

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara (mo n ni irora)

  5. Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́

    Ndine allergic kumapundu (mo ni akunya si efo)

  6. Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara? (nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)

  7. O n dun nibi

    Zvinorwadza pano (o n dun nibi)

  8. Mo padanu iwe irinna mi

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu (mo padanu iwe irinna mi)

  9. Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu? (se o le pe hoteeli mi)

  10. I ranlọwọ!

    Rubatsiro! (i ranlọwọ)

Work and business

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

  1. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Ndinofara kukusangana (Inu mi dun lati pade e)

  2. Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. O seun fun akoko rẹ

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  11. Akoko ipari ni Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Kini akoko to wa?

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

  2. O ti di mẹta

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Loni

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Ọla

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Ana

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Ọjọ́ Ajé

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Ọjọ́ Iṣẹ́gun

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Ọjọ́ Rú

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Ọkan

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Meji

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Mẹta

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Mẹwa

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Ọgọ́rùn-ún

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Idaji

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Diẹ sii

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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