chiShona speaking like a local
200 speaking like a local phrases in chiShona, each with a say-it-like guide. Tap a phrase to hear it and see how it is used.
- Help!Ndibatsireiwondee-bah-tsee-REH-ee-woh
- Hi / heyMhoroMMOH-roh
- How are you? / How's it?Wakadini? / Wakadini zvako?wah-kah-DEE-nee (ZVAH-koh)
- How's it going? / What's up?Sei?SAY
- I'm good / I'm alrightNdiri bho / Ndiri rayitin-DEE-ree BHOH / n-DEE-ree RYE-tee
- ThanksNdatenda / Mazvitan-dah-TEN-dah / mah-ZVEE-tah
- Yeah / yepEheEH-heh
- Nah / nopeAiwaAH-ee-wah
- See you / catch you laterTichaonanatee-chah-oh-NAH-nah
- Take care / safe travelsUfambe zvakanakaoo-FAHM-beh zvah-kah-NAH-kah
- Cool / it's all goodIbho / ZvirikufayaEE-bhoh / zvee-ree-koo-FAH-yah
- Bro / mateSha / ShamwariSHAH / shahm-WAH-ree
- Bro / older brotherBhudhiBOO-dee
- Sis / older sisterSisiSEE-see
- Sorry / 'scuse meSorry / PamusoroSOR-ree / pah-moo-SOH-roh
- PleaseNdapotan-dah-POH-tah
- Community / neighbourhoodNharaundaB1nhah-rah-OO-ndah
- Meeting / gatheringMusanganoB1moo-sah-NGAH-noh
- ElectricityMagetsiB1mah-GEH-tsee
- We work together / uniteTinobatanaB1tee-noh-bah-TAH-nah
- I want to helpNdinoda kubatsiraB1ndee-noh-dah koo-bah-TSEE-rah
- There is a meeting todayPane musangano nhasiB1PAH-neh moo-sah-NGAH-noh NHAH-see
- We take care of the neighbourhoodTinochengetedza nharaundaB1tee-noh-cheh-ngeh-TEH-dzah nhah-rah-OO-ndah
- I am thankful for the helpNdinotenda nerubatsiroB1ndee-noh-TEH-ndah neh-roo-bah-TSEE-roh
- We share with each otherTinogovanaB1tee-noh-goh-VAH-nah
- Telephone / cellphoneRunhareB2roo-NHAH-reh
- ComputerKombiyutaB2kohm-bee-YOO-tah
- The internetIndanetiB2een-dah-NEH-tee
- Message / textMesejiB2meh-SEH-jee
- To sendKutumiraB2koo-too-MEE-rah
- Picture / photoMufananidzoB2moo-fah-nah-NEE-dzoh
- PasswordPasiwedhiB2pah-see-WEH-dhee
- There's no signal/networkHapana netiwekiB2hah-PAH-nah neh-tee-WEH-kee
- I have sent a messageNdatumira mesejiB2ndah-too-MEE-rah meh-SEH-jee
- To downloadKudhirowunidhaB2koo-dhee-roh-woo-NEE-dhah
- App / applicationApuniB2ah-POO-nee
- The battery has run outBhatari rapereraB2bhah-TAH-ree rah-peh-REH-rah
- Did you call me?Wandifonera here?B2wah-ndee-foh-NEH-rah HEH-reh
- I read it onlineNdaverenga onlineB2ndah-veh-REHN-gah oh-LAH-een
- The environmentZvakatipoteredzaB2zvah-kah-tee-poh-teh-REH-dzah
- TreesMitiB2MEE-tee
- Forest / bushSangoB2SAH-ngoh
- Rubbish / wasteMararaB2mah-RAH-rah
- To protect / conserveKuchengetedzaB2koo-cheh-ngeh-TEH-dzah
- Water / rainMvuraB2MVOO-rah
- Water pollutionKusvibiswa kwemvuraB2koo-svee-BEE-swah kweh-MVOO-rah
- The weather / climateMamiriro ekunzeB2mah-mee-REE-roh eh-koo-NZEH
- To harvestKukohwaB2koo-KOH-hwah
- To plant treesKudyara mitiB2koo-DYAH-rah MEE-tee
- We must do somethingTinofanira kuita chimwe chinhuB2tee-noh-fah-NEE-rah koo-ee-tah CHEE-mweh CHEE-nhoo
- Drought / water shortageKushaya mvuraB2koo-SHAH-yah MVOO-rah
- Custom / good mannersTsikaB2TSEE-kah
- Way of life / customsMagariroB2mah-gah-REE-roh
- WeddingMuchatoB2moo-CHAH-toh
- FuneralMariroB2mah-REE-roh
- Bride price / lobolaRooraB2ROH-oh-rah
- Traditional court / gatheringDareB2DAH-reh
- Totem / clan nameMutupoB2moo-TOO-poh
- African tradition / customChivanhuB2chee-VAH-nhoo
- Celebration / feastMutamboB2moo-TAHM-boh
- To honour / show respectKuyemuraB2koo-yeh-MOO-rah
- Ancestors / forebearsMadzitateguruB2mah-dzee-tah-teh-GOO-roo
- Ancestral ceremonyBiraB2BEE-rah
- It accords with customZvinoenderana netsikaB2zvee-noh-eh-ndeh-RAH-nah neh-TSEE-kah
- Long ago / once upon a timeKare kareB2KAH-reh KAH-reh
- At first / in the beginningPakutangaB2pah-koo-TAHN-gah
- Then / and soZvinoB2ZVEE-noh
- AfterwardsPashureB2pah-SHOO-reh
- I sawNdakaonaB2ndah-kah-OH-nah
- It happenedZvakaitikaB2zvah-kah-ee-TEE-kah
- Story / matterNyayaB2NYAH-yah
- In the end / finallyPakupedzisiraB2pah-koo-peh-dzee-SEE-rah
- ProblemDambudzikoB2dah-mboo-DZEE-koh
- Answer / solutionMhinduroB2mhee-NDOO-roh
- Advice / idea / planZanoB2ZAH-noh
- How shall we solve it?Tichagadzirisa sei?B2tee-chah-gah-dzee-REE-sah SEH-ee
- It will work outZvichaitaB2zvee-chah-EE-tah
- I thank you greatlyNdinokutendai zvikuruC1ndee-noh-koo-TEHN-dah-ee zvee-KOO-roo
- We welcome youTinokugamuchiraiC1tee-noh-koo-gah-moo-CHEE-rah-ee
- Meeting / organisationMusanganoC1moo-sahn-GAH-noh
- Decision / electionSarudzoC1sah-ROO-dzoh
- LeaderMutungamiririC1moo-toon-gah-mee-REE-ree
- Plan / programmeChirongwaC1chee-ROHN-gwah
- Answer / responseMhinduroC1mhee-NDOO-roh
- Please put it right / correct itNdapota gadzirisaiC1ndah-POH-tah gah-dzee-REE-sah-ee
- Job application letterGwaro rekukumbira basaC1GWAH-roh reh-koo-koom-BEE-rah BAH-sah
- It is our hope thatTariro yedu ndeyekutiC1tah-REE-roh YEH-doo ndeh-yeh-KOO-tee
- I request to be informedNdinokumbira kuziviswaC1ndee-noh-koom-BEE-rah koo-zee-VEES-wah
- With great respect / yours faithfullyNekuremekedza kukuruC1neh-koo-reh-meh-KEH-dzah koo-KOO-roo
- Idea / thoughtPfungwaC1PFOON-gwah
- Education / learningDzidzoC1DZEE-dzoh
- KnowledgeRuzivoC1roo-ZEE-voh
- Explanation / definitionTsananguroC1tsah-nah-NGOO-roh
- Cause / reasonChikonzeroC1chee-koh-NZEH-roh
- Consequences / resultsMigumisiroC1mee-goo-mee-SEE-roh
- Analysis / researchOngororoC1oh-ngoh-ROH-roh
- Assumption / hypothesisFungidziroC1foon-gee-DZEE-roh
- Theory / teaching / doctrineDzidzisoC1dzee-DZEE-soh
- Viewpoint / perspectiveMaoneroC1mah-oh-NEH-roh
- Intelligence / clevernessHungwaruC1hoo-NGWAH-roo
- Structure / form / natureChimiroC1chee-MEE-roh
- Difference / distinctionMutsaukoC1moo-tsah-OO-koh
- To compareKuenzanisaC1koo-eh-nzah-NEE-sah
- Broadcast / radio-TV stationNhepfenyuroC1nheh-pfeh-NYOO-roh
- Announcement / advertisementChizivisoC1chee-zee-VEE-soh
- Lies / falsehoodManyepoC1mah-NYEH-poh
- Bias / discriminationRusaruraC1roo-sah-ROO-rah
- To persuadeKunyengetedzaC1koo-nyeh-ngeh-TEH-dzah
- To encourage / promoteKukurudziraC1koo-koo-roo-DZEE-rah
- Public opinionMaonero eruzhinjiC1mah-oh-NEH-roh eh-roo-ZHEEN-jee
- To advertise / publiciseKushambadziraC1koo-shahm-bah-DZEE-rah
- An important messageShoko rinokoshaC1SHOH-koh ree-noh-KOH-shah
- To dispute / controversyKupokanaC1koo-poh-KAH-nah
- History / accountNhoroondoC1nhoh-roh-OHN-doh
- Lineage / clanDzinzaC1DZEEN-zah
- TotemMutupoC1moo-TOO-poh
- AncestorsMadzitateguruC1mah-dzee-tah-teh-GOO-roo
- FolktaleNganoC1NGAH-noh
- Customs and way of lifeTsika nemagariroC1TSEE-kah neh-mah-gah-REE-roh
- Inheritance / heritageNhakaC1NHAH-kah
- Language / tongueRurimiC1roo-REE-mee
- Praise-nameChidaoC1chee-DAH-oh
- Praise poem / recitationDetemboC1deh-TEHM-boh
- Proverbs and idiomsTsumo nemadimikiraC1TSOO-moh neh-mah-dee-mee-KEE-rah
- HeroesMagambaC1mah-GAHM-bah
- Celebration / festivityMhembereroC1mheh-mbeh-REH-roh
- You're teasing me / playing with meUri kunditambaC1OO-ree koon-dee-TAHM-bah
- Don't tease me!Usanditambe!C1oo-sahn-dee-TAHM-beh
- It's funny / amusingZvinosekesaC1zvee-noh-seh-KEH-sah
- You've left us speechlessWatinyaradza ziiC1wah-tee-nyah-RAH-dzah ZEE-ee
- You're not telling the truthHausi kutaura chokwadiC1hah-OO-see koo-TAH-oo-rah choh-KWAH-dee
- You've made me laughWandisetsaC1wahn-dee-SEH-tsah
- You joke even with hardshipUnotamba nhamoC1oo-noh-TAHM-bah NHAH-moh
- To tease / mock / make a barbed jokeKutsvinyaC1koo-TSVEE-nyah
- Funny stories / jokesNyaya dzekusekaC1NYAH-yah dzeh-koo-SEH-kah
- To pretend to be seriousKunyebera kusekaC1koo-nyeh-BEH-rah koo-SEH-kah
- He/she is just joking aroundAri kuita zvekutambaC1AH-ree koo-EE-tah zveh-koo-TAHM-bah
- Go ahead and laugh / laugh it offSeka hakoC1SEH-kah HAH-koh
- Elevated / formal registerMutauro wepamusoroC2moo-TAH-oo-roh weh-pah-moo-SOH-roh
- Informal / everyday registerMutauro wepasiC2moo-TAH-oo-roh weh-PAH-see
- To speak in a roundabout / veiled wayKupoteredzaC2koo-poh-teh-REH-dzah
- To show respect / honour someoneKuremekedzaC2koo-reh-meh-KEH-dzah
- Conduct / manner / way of doingMaitiroC2mah-ee-TEE-roh
- It carries weight / is a serious matterZvinoremaC2zvee-noh-REH-mah
- To smile subtly / wrylyKunyemwereraC2koo-nyeh-mweh-REH-rah
- To grumble / scold / complain sharplyKupopotaC2koo-poh-POH-tah
- To flatter / coax deceptivelyKunyeberaC2koo-nyeh-BEH-rah
- To praise / commend sincerelyKurumbidzaC2koo-room-BEE-dzah
- To belittle / look down on / disparageKushoraC2koo-SHOH-rah
- To compare / use as a figure of speechKufananidzaC2koo-fah-nah-NEE-dzah
- Words with an in-between meaningMashoko ari pakatiC2mah-SHOH-koh AH-ree pah-KAH-tee
- Praise-poem / recited poetryDetemboC2deh-TEHM-boh
- An ideophoneNyaudzosingwiC2nyah-oo-dzoh-SEEN-gwee
- Ideophone for utter silence / dead quietPakataC2pah-KAH-tah
- Ideophone for something falling with a thudDhuvhuC2DHOO-vhoo
- RiddleChirahweC2chee-RAH-hweh
- Playful / joking figures of speechMadimikira okusekaC2mah-dee-mee-KEE-rah oh-koo-SEH-kah
- To play with words / make punsKutamba namazwiC2koo-TAHM-bah nah-MAH-zwee
- To laugh / to jokeKusekaC2koo-SEH-kah
- Laughter / a jokeChisekoC2chee-SEH-koh
- Song / poemNziyoC2NZEE-yoh
- To singKuimbaC2koo-EEM-bah
- A songRwiyoC2RWEE-yoh
- To danceKudzanaC2koo-DZAH-nah
- To speak in metaphor / figurativelyKutaura nemadimikiraC2koo-TAH-oo-rah neh-mah-dee-mee-KEE-rah
- Law / statuteMutemoC2moo-TEH-moh
- Court / council / tribunalDareC2DAH-reh
- Offence / charge / caseMhosvaC2MHOH-svah
- Doctor / physicianChirembaC2chee-REHM-bah
- Disease / illnessChirwereC2chee-RWEH-reh
- To treat / cureKurapaC2koo-RAH-pah
- ScienceSainziC2sah-EEN-zee
- Research / analysis / investigationOngororoC2oh-ngoh-ROH-roh
- SongsTsvagurudzoC2tsvah-goo-ROO-dzoh
- Economy / wealthHupfumiC2hoo-PFOO-mee
- Money / financeMariC2MAH-ree
- Agricultural matters / farmingZvekurimaC2zveh-koo-REE-mah
- Karanga dialectKarangaC2kah-RAHN-gah
- Zezuru dialectZezuruC2zeh-ZOO-roo
- Manyika dialectManyikaC2mah-NYEE-kah
- Korekore dialectKorekoreC2koh-reh-KOH-reh
- Ndau dialectNdauC2NDAH-oo
- Tongue / language / dialectRurimiC2roo-REE-mee
- Region / district / areaDunhuC2DOON-hoo
- The westMadokeroC2mah-doh-KEH-roh
- The eastMabvazuvaC2mah-bvah-ZOO-vah
- Tradition / the ways of the peopleChivanhuC2chee-VAH-nhoo
- History / chronicle / accountNhoroondoC2nhoh-roh-OHN-doh
- The ancestors / forebearsMadzitateguruC2mah-dzee-tah-teh-GOO-roo
- King / chief / paramount rulerMamboC2MAHM-boh
- Fellow person / ordinary personMunhuwoC2moo-NHOO-woh
- Wisdom / sagacityUchenjeriC2oo-cheh-NJEH-ree
- Humanness / the dignity of being humanUnhuC2OO-nhoo
- TruthChokwadiC2choh-KWAH-dee
- To be upright / just / righteousKururamaC2koo-roo-RAH-mah
- An avenging spirit / grave moral debtNgoziC2NGOH-zee
- Spiritual matter / matter of the spiritMhuka yemweyaC2MHOO-kah yeh-MWEH-yah
- Ancestral spirit / guardian spiritMudzimuC2moo-DZEE-moo
- Way of life / how one livesMagariroC2mah-gah-REE-roh
- HopeTariroC2tah-REE-roh