Looking for practical Zapotec to Ndau phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zapotec phrase first, then the Ndau translation (Ndau) — 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 Ndau.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Ndau-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Zapotec to Ndau 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.
Díí
Mhoro(di'i)
Güi
Ndatenda(güi)
Bëëna
Mangwanani akanaka(bëëna)
Bëëna xhí
Masikati akanaka(bëëna xhi)
Bëëna xhí
Manheru akanaka(bëëna xhi)
Bëëna dzaa
Usiku hwakanaka(bëëna dzaa)
Dáa xhí
Tichasangana zvakare(daa xhi)
Díí xhí
Sara zvakanaka(di'i xhi)
¿Náá xhí nè?
Zita rako ndiani?(naa xhi ne)
Náá nè John
Zita rangu ndiJohn(naa ne John)
¿Náá xhí?
Uri sei?(naa xhi)
Náá nè xhí
Ndinofara kukuziva(naa ne xhi)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿Ndi xquidxi inglés?
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Ndi xquidxi hindi nisa
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka.
Ndi xquidxi nisa
Handinzwisise.
Ndi xquidxi xhíí xquidxi
Ndapota taura zvishoma.
¿Ndi xquidxi nisa xquidxi?
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí?
Chimbuzi chiri kupi?
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí nisa?
Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta?
Xquidxi xhíí
Pinda kuruboshwe.
Xquidxi xhíí
Pinda kurudyi.
Xquidxi nisa
Enda mberi.
¿Díí xquidxi nisa?
Mari yefare ingani?
Ndi xquidxi nisa, xhíí
Tiketi imwe, ndapota.
¿Díí xquidxi nisa?
Iko kure kubva pano?
Ndi xquidxi nisa
Ndakakanganiswa.
¿Díí xquidxi nisa SIM?
Ndingatenga kupi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Nda
Ehe
Naa
Aih
Nda'na
Pangani
Nda'ni
Ndakubvumirana
Naa'ni
Handibvumirani
Nda'na xquidxi
Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka
¿Nda'ni xquidxi?
Unofungei?
¿Nda'ni xquidxi?
Ungandibatsira here?
Nda'ni xquidxi xquidxi
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Nda'ni xquidxi xquidxi
Mirira nguva shoma
Nda'ni xquidxi
Ndineurombo
Naa'ni xquidxi
Hapana dambudziko
Nda'ni xquidxi
Makorokoto
Nda'ni xquidxi
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Nda'ni xquidxi
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.