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Learn chiShona: the words and phrases you'll use first
chiShona is spoken by 9M+ people in Zimbabwe. Start with these 105 everyday phrases, each with a say-it-like guide, checked by native-speaking tutors. Tap Listen to hear 57 of them.
- 105 starter phrases
- 57 to listen to
- 882 in the full chiShona library
Practise: 20 phrases to know first
0 / 20 knownHow do you say "Hello"?
Mhoro
MHOH-roh
How do you say "How are you?"?
Makadii?
mah-kah-DEE-ee
How do you say "And how are you?"?
Makadiiwo?
mah-kah-DEE-ee-woh
How do you say "I'm fine"?
Ndiripo
ndee-REE-poh
How do you say "We're fine"?
Tiripo
tee-REE-poh
How do you say "Good morning"?
Mangwanani
mahn-gwah-NAH-nee
How do you say "Good afternoon"?
Masikati
mah-see-KAH-tee
How do you say "Good evening"?
Manheru
mah-NHEH-roo
How do you say "Thank you"?
Maita basa
mah-EE-tah BAH-sah
How do you say "Excuse me / sorry"?
Pamusoroi
pah-moo-soh-ROH-ee
How do you say "Yes"?
Hongu
HOHN-goo
How do you say "No"?
Kwete
KWEH-teh
How do you say "Go well"?
Famba zvakanaka
FAHM-bah zvah-kah-NAH-kah
How do you say "Stay well"?
Sara zvakanaka
SAH-rah zvah-kah-NAH-kah
How do you say "Goodbye"?
Sarai zvakanaka
How do you say "Good night"?
Rara zvakanaka
RAH-rah zvah-kah-NAH-kah
How do you say "See you later"?
Tichaonana
tee-chah-oh-NAH-nah
How do you say "Sorry"?
Ndine urombo
ndee-neh oo-ROHM-boh
How do you say "Excuse me"?
Pamusoroi
pah-moo-soh-ROH-ee
How do you say "My name is …"?
Zita rangu ndi…
ZEE-tah RAHN-goo ndee
You know all 20 first chiShona phrases
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Greetings & courtesy
- MhoroHelloMHOH-roh›
- Makadii?How are you?mah-kah-DEE-ee›
- Makadiiwo?And how are you?mah-kah-DEE-ee-woh›
- NdiripoI'm finendee-REE-poh›
- TiripoWe're finetee-REE-poh›
- MangwananiGood morningmahn-gwah-NAH-nee›
- MasikatiGood afternoonmah-see-KAH-tee›
- ManheruGood eveningmah-NHEH-roo›
- Maita basaThank youmah-EE-tah BAH-sah›
- PamusoroiExcuse me / sorrypah-moo-soh-ROH-ee›
- HonguYesHOHN-goo›
- KweteNoKWEH-teh›
- Famba zvakanakaGo wellFAHM-bah zvah-kah-NAH-kah›
- Sara zvakanakaStay wellSAH-rah zvah-kah-NAH-kah›
- Sarai zvakanakaGoodbye›
- Rara zvakanakaGood nightRAH-rah zvah-kah-NAH-kah›
- TichaonanaSee you latertee-chah-oh-NAH-nah›
- Ndine uromboSorryndee-neh oo-ROHM-boh›
- PamusoroiExcuse mepah-moo-soh-ROH-ee›
Introducing yourself
- Zita rangu ndi…My name is …ZEE-tah RAHN-goo ndee›
- Zita rako ndiani?What is your name?ZEE-tah RAH-koh ndee-AH-nee›
- Ndinonzi…I am called …ndee-NOHN-zee›
- Ndinobva ku…I come from …ndee-NOH-bvah koo›
- Ndinogara ku…I live in …ndee-noh-GAH-rah koo›
- Ndiri kudzidza chiShonaI am learning Shonandee-ree koo-DZEE-dzah chee-SHOH-nah›
- Ndinotaura chiRunguI speak Englishndee-noh-tah-OO-rah chee-ROON-goo›
- NdinonzwisisaI understandndee-noh-nzwee-SEE-sah›
- HandinzwisisiI don't understandhahn-dee-nzwee-SEE-see›
- Dzokorora hakoPlease repeatdzoh-koh-ROH-rah HAH-koh›
Speaking like a local
- NdibatsireiwoHelp!ndee-bah-tsee-REH-ee-woh›
- MhoroHi / heyMMOH-roh›
- Wakadini? / Wakadini zvako?How are you? / How's it?wah-kah-DEE-nee (ZVAH-koh)›
- Sei?How's it going? / What's up?SAY›
- Ndiri bho / Ndiri rayitiI'm good / I'm alrightn-DEE-ree BHOH / n-DEE-ree RYE-tee›
- Ndatenda / MazvitaThanksn-dah-TEN-dah / mah-ZVEE-tah›
- EheYeah / yepEH-heh›
- AiwaNah / nopeAH-ee-wah›
- TichaonanaSee you / catch you latertee-chah-oh-NAH-nah›
- Ufambe zvakanakaTake care / safe travelsoo-FAHM-beh zvah-kah-NAH-kah›
Numbers
- potsi / -mweOnePOH-tsee / mweh›
- piriTwoPEE-ree›
- tatuThreeTAH-too›
- chinaFourCHEE-nah›
- shanuFiveSHAH-noo›
- tanhatuSixtah-NHAH-too›
- nomweSevenNOH-mweh›
- sereEightSEH-reh›
- pfumbamweNinepfoom-BAH-mweh›
- gumiTenGOO-mee›
- gumi neimweElevenGOO-mee NEH-mweh›
- gumi neshanuFifteenGOO-mee neh-SHAH-noo›
Days & time
- MuvhuroMondaymoo-VHOO-roh›
- ChipiriTuesdaychee-PEE-ree›
- ChitatuWednesdaychee-TAH-too›
- ChinaThursdayCHEE-nah›
- ChishanuFridaychee-SHAH-noo›
- MugoveraSaturdaymoo-goh-VEH-rah›
- SvondoSundaySVOHN-doh›
- zuvaDay / sunZOO-vah›
- vhikiWeekVHEE-kee›
- nhasiTodayNHAH-see›
Food & drink
- chikafuFoodchee-KAH-foo›
- sadzaSadzaSAH-dzah›
- nyamaMeatNYAH-mah›
- muriwoVegetables / relishmoo-REE-woh›
- mvuraWaterMVOO-rah›
- mukakaMilkmoo-KAH-kah›
- tiiTeaTEE-ee›
- chingwaBreadCHEEN-gwah›
- mazaiEggsmah-ZAH-ee›
- micheroFruitmee-CHEH-roh›
Shopping & money
- Imarii?How much is it?ee-mah-REE-ee›
- mariMoneyMAH-ree›
- mutengoPricemoo-TEHN-goh›
- Ndinokumbira…May I have… / pleasendee-noh-koom-BEE-rah›
- Ndinoda kutengaI want to buyndee-noh-dah koo-TEHN-gah›
- chitoroShopchee-TOH-roh›
- musikaMarketmoo-SEE-kah›
- chinhuThing / itemCHEE-nhoo›
Places & directions
- Ndekupi…?Where is…?ndeh-KOO-pee›
- nziraRoad / wayNZEE-rah›
- kuruboshweTo the leftkoo-roo-BOH-shweh›
- kurudyiTo the rightkoo-roo-DYEE›
- mberiAhead / in frontMBEH-ree›
- shureBehindSHOO-reh›
- pedyoNearPEH-dyoh›
- kureFarKOO-reh›
Family & people
- mhuriFamilyMHOO-ree›
- amaiMotherah-MAH-ee›
- babaFatherBAH-bah›
- mwanaChildMWAH-nah›
- vanaChildrenVAH-nah›
- mwanakomanaSon / boymwah-nah-koh-MAH-nah›
- mwanasikanaDaughter / girlmwah-nah-see-KAH-nah›
- mbuyaGrandmotherMBOO-yah›
- sekuruGrandfather / maternal uncleseh-KOO-roo›
- mukomaOlder siblingmoo-KOH-mah›
Feelings
- NdinofaraI am happyndee-noh-FAH-rah›
- NdasuwaI am sad / I miss youndah-SOO-wah›
- NdanetaI am tiredndah-NEH-tah›
- NdinokudaI love youndee-noh-KOO-dah›
- Ndinodada neweI am proud of youndee-noh-DAH-dah NEH-weh›
- Mwari akukomborereGod bless youMWAH-ree ah-koo-kohm-boh-REH-reh›
- zvakanakaGood / fine / okayzvah-kah-NAH-kah›
- Hapana mhosvaNo problem / it's finehah-PAH-nah MHOH-svah›