Learn Shona ten words at a time
chiShona
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Shona words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Mhoroim-HOH-roy
- Hello
- Mangwananimahn-gwah-NAH-nee
- Good morning
- Manherumah-NHEH-roo
- Good evening
- Chisarai zvakanakachee-sah-RAI zvah-kah-NAH-kah
- Goodbye
- Tichaonanatee-cha-oh-NA-na
- See you
- Ndapotan-dah-POH-tah
- Please
- Ndatendan-dah-TEN-dah
- Thank you
- Hapana dambudzikohah-PAH-nah dahm-boo-DZEE-koh
- You're welcome
- Ndine urombon-DEE-neh oo-ROHM-boh
- Sorry
- Pamusoroipah-moo-soh-ROY
- Excuse me
- Ndafara kusangana nemin-dah-FAH-rah koo-sahn-GAH-nah NEH-mee
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Ndinoda...n-dee-NOH-dah
- I would like...
- IchiEE-chee
- This one
- Imarii?ee-mah-REE
- How much is it?
- Bhiri, ndapotaBEE-ree, n-dah-POH-tah
- The bill, please
- Nekadhineh-KAH-dee
- By card
- Nemarineh-MAH-ree
- In cash
- MvuraMVOO-rah
- Water
- KofiKOH-fee
- Coffee
- Tiitee
- Tea
- DoroDOH-roh
- Beer
- Pasina...pah-SEE-nah
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- HonguHOHN-goo
- Yes
- KweteKWEH-teh
- No
- Zvakanakazvah-kah-NAH-kah
- Okay
- Handinzwisisehahn-deen-zwee-SEE-seh
- I don't understand
- Munotaura Chirungu here?moo-noh-TAH-oo-rah chee-ROON-goo HEH-reh
- Do you speak English?
- Dzokororaidzoh-koh-roh-RAI
- Can you repeat that?
- Zvishoma nezvishomazvee-SHOH-mah neh-zvee-SHOH-mah
- Slowly, please
- Ichi chii?EE-chee CHEE
- What is this?
- Ndiri kuda...n-DEE-ree KOO-dah
- I need...
- Mungandibatsira here?moon-gahn-dee-bah-TSEE-rah HEH-reh
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- PoshiPOH-shee
- One
- PiriPEE-ree
- Two
- TatuTAH-too
- Three
- InaEE-nah
- Four
- ShanuSHAH-noo
- Five
- Tanhatutah-NHAH-too
- Six
- NomweNOHM-weh
- Seven
- SereSEH-reh
- Eight
- Pfumbamwepfoom-BAHM-weh
- Nine
- GumiGOO-mee
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Mune ... here?MOO-neh ... HEH-reh
- Do you have...?
- ...iri kupi?EE-ree KOO-pee
- Where is...?
- Yakavhurwayah-kah-VHOOR-wah
- Open
- Yakavharwayah-kah-VHAR-wah
- Closed
- Bhegi?BEH-gee
- A bag?
- Zvinodhura zvakanyanyazvee-noh-DHOO-rah zvah-kah-NYAH-nyah
- Too expensive
- Ndakabhukan-dah-kah-BHOO-kah
- I have a reservation
- Kudya kwemangwanani kunosanganisirwa here?KOO-dyah kweh-mahn-gwah-NAH-nee koo-noh-sahn-gah-nee-SEER-wah HEH-reh
- Is breakfast included?
- Pasiwedhi yewifi ndeipi?pah-see-WEH-dhee yeh-WAI-fai ndeh-EE-pee
- What's the wifi password?
- Ndinogona ku...here?n-dee-noh-GOH-nah koo ... HEH-reh
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Tafura yevanhu vaviritah-FOO-rah yeh-VAH-nhoo vah-VEE-ree
- A table for two
- Menyu, ndapotaMEH-nyoo, n-dah-POH-tah
- The menu, please
- Chii chakanaka?CHEE chah-kah-NAH-kah
- What do you recommend?
- Handidye...hahn-DEE-dyeh
- I don't eat...
- Ndine allergy ne...n-DEE-neh A-ler-jee neh
- I'm allergic to...
- NyamaNYAH-mah
- Meat
- HukuHOO-koo
- Chicken
- HoveHOH-veh
- Fish
- Zvinonakazvee-noh-NAH-kah
- It's delicious
- Cheerscheerz
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Makadii?mah-kah-DEE
- How are you?
- Ndiripo, maita basan-dee-REE-poh, mah-EE-tah BAH-sah
- I'm fine, thanks
- Imi makadiiwo?EE-mee mah-kah-dee-EE-woh
- And you?
- Munonzi ani?moo-NOHN-zee AH-nee
- What's your name?
- Ndinonzi...n-dee-NOHN-zee
- My name is...
- Munobva kupi?moo-NOH-bvah KOO-pee
- Where are you from?
- Ndinobva ku...n-dee-NOH-bvah koo
- I'm from...
- Ndinozvifariran-dee-noh-zvee-fah-REE-rah
- I like it
- Zvinoyevedzazvee-noh-yeh-VEH-dzah
- It's beautiful
- Mauyamah-OO-yah
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Chimbuzi chiri kupi?cheem-BOO-zee CHEE-ree KOO-pee
- Where is the toilet?
- Ndingasvika sei ku...?n-deen-gah-SVEE-kah SAY koo
- How do I get to...?
- Kuruboshwekoo-roo-BOH-shweh
- To the left
- Kurudyikoo-ROO-dyee
- To the right
- MberiMBEH-ree
- Straight ahead
- PanoPAH-noh
- Here
- Chiteshi chechitimachee-TEH-shee cheh-chee-TEE-mah
- Train station
- BhaziBHAH-zee
- Bus
- Nhandare yendegenhahn-DAH-reh yen-DEH-geh
- Airport
- Tikiti rimwe, ndapotatee-KEE-tee REEM-weh, n-dah-POH-tah
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- Iye zvinoEE-yeh ZVEE-noh
- Now
- Gare gareGAH-reh GAH-reh
- Later
- NhasiNHAH-see
- Today
- Mangwanamahn-GWAH-nah
- Tomorrow
- Manheru anomah-NHEH-roo AH-noh
- Tonight
- Rinhi?REE-nhee
- When?
- Munovhura nguva yei?moo-noh-VHOO-rah NGOO-vah YAY
- What time does it open?
- Mirai zvishomamee-RAI zvee-SHOH-mah
- One moment, please
- Maminitsimah-mee-NEE-tsee
- Minutes
- Maawamah-AH-wah
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Ndibatsirei!n-dee-bah-TSEE-ray
- Help!
- Daidzai chirembadai-DZAI chee-REM-bah
- Call a doctor
- Mapurisamah-poo-REE-sah
- Police
- ChemistKEM-ist
- Pharmacy
- Chipatarachee-pah-TAH-rah
- Hospital
- Ndarasikan-dah-rah-SEE-kah
- I'm lost
- Handinzwe zvakanakahahn-DEEN-zweh zvah-kah-NAH-kah
- I don't feel well
- Zvabiwazvah-BEE-wah
- It was stolen
- Inyaya yekukurumidzaee-NYAH-yah yeh-koo-koo-roo-MEE-dzah
- It's an emergency
- Ndisiyein-dee-SEE-yay
- Leave me alone