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Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials in Shona
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Shona words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Shona phrases in this lesson
- 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?
"Ehe" (EH-heh) is the casual yes.
Literally "it is good".
English is an official language and widely spoken.
Literally "repeat it".
Literally "little by little".
Literally "I am wanting ...".