Learn Shona
Shona phrases, spoken by native speakers
123 everyday Shona phrases with audio, from greetings to getting around.
Lesson 1: Introducing Yourself
Lesson 2: Introducing Yourself to an Elder
Lesson 3: Politeness and Requests
- Please can I haveNdiri kukumbirawo
- BreadChingwa
- Please can I have some breadNdiri kukumbirawo chingwa
- GrandmotherAmbuya
- Grandmother, please can I have some bread?Ambuya ndiri kukumbirawo chingwa?
- Thank youMaita basa
- Thank you, grandmotherMaita basa ambuya
- WaterMvura
- Please can I have some water, grandmother?Ambuya ndiri kukumbira mvura
- Please can I have some waterNdiri kukumbirawo mvura
Lesson 4: Understanding Each Other
- I don’t understandHandisi kunzwisisa
- Slowlyzvishoma nezvishoma
- Please speak slowlyNdinokumbirawo utaure zvishoma nezvishoma
- I don’t understand. Please speak slowlyHandisi kunzwisisa. Ndinokumbirawo kuti utaure zvishoma nezvishoma
- Do you speak English?Unotaura chirungu here
- Do you speak Shona?Unotaura Shona here
- A littleZvishoma
- Do you speak Ndebele?Unotaura Ndebele here?
- Please repeat thatNdinokumbirawo kuti udzokorore
- I don’t understand. Please can you repeat that?Handisi kunzwisisa. Ndinokumbirawo udzokorore
- Excuse me, fatherPamusoroi baba
- Excuse me, father. I don’t understand. Please can you repeat that?Pamusoroi baba, handina kunzwisisa ndinokumbirawo mudzokorore?
Lesson 5: Family and Titles
- MotherAmai
- MyVangu
- My fatherBaba vangu
- My motherAmai vangu
- This is my fatherAva ndibaba vangu
- This is my motherAva ndiamai vangu
- My name is Yanai. This is my motherZita rangu ndinonzi Yanai. Ava ndivo amai vangu
- ParentsVabereki
- My name is Yanai. These are my parents.Zita rangu ndinonzi Yanai. Ava ndivo vabereki vangu
- Older brotherVakoma/Mukoma/bhudhi
- Older sisterVakoma/Sisi
- Younger brotherMunin’ina
- Younger sisterMunin’ina
- Younger SiblingMunin’ina
- sister of boyhanzvadzi
- brother to girlhanzvadzi
- Respectful title (brother)Bhudhi Tinashe
- Respectful title (sister)sisi Chenai
Lesson 6: Daily Routines
- I wake upNdamuka
- In the morningMangwanai
- I wake up in the morningMangwanani ega ega ndinomuka
- I take a bathNdageza
- I wake up. I take a bath.Ndamuka, ndogeza
- I get dressedNdopfeka
- I eatNdodya
- I eat at homeNdodya kumba
- I go to schoolNdoenda kuchikoro
- I wake up. I take a bath. I get dressed. I eat. I go to schoolNdamuka, nogeza, ndopfeka, ndoenda kuchikoro
- I come homeNdodzoka kumba
- I play with my friendsNdotamba neshamwari dzangu
- I come home and play with my friendsNdinoenda kumba ndotamba neshamwari dzangu
- In the evening I eat with my familyManheru ndinodya nemhuri yangu
- I go to sleepNdonorara
- GoodnightMorara zvakanaka
- Goodnight Mom, Goodnight DadMorara zvakanaka amai, morara zvakanaka baba
- Every morningMangwanani
- Every morning I wake up and take a bathNdamuka, ndogeza
- EveningManheru
- Every morning I wake upNdamuka mangwanani
- I am going, MomNdavakuenda amai
- Go wellEnda zvakanaka
- Good afternoon, GrandmotherMaswera sei ambuya
Lesson 7: Numbers and counting(1-10)
- OnePotsi
- TwoPiri
- ThreeTatu
- FourIna
- FiveShanu
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Potsi, Piri, Tatu, Ina, Shanu
- SixTanhatu
- SevenNomwe
- EightSere
- ninePfumbamwe
- tenGumi
- 1 to 10Potsi, Piri, Tatu, Ina, Shanu, Tanhatu, Nomwe, Sere, Pfumbamwe, Gumi
- YearGore
- Five yearsMakore Mashanu
- I would like two loaves of bread pleaseNdinodawo zvingwa zviviri
Lesson 8: The Marketplace
- How much is this?zvinoita marii izvi
- Excuse me, how much is this?pamusoroi imarii izvi
- Moneymari
- I want to buyndinoda kutenga
- I want to buy breadndinoda kutenga chingwa
- It is expensivezviri kudhura
- It is cheap/ not expensivezvakachipa
- Please can you reduce the priceNdapota dzikisai mutengo
- I have eight dollarsNdine madhora masere
- I have five dollarsndine madhora mashanu
- I have ten dollarsndine madhora maumi
- Good! I will take it.zvakanaka ndinotora
- Thank you very muchmaita basa chose
- Good morning, Mothermamukasei amai
- How much are the tomatoes?imarii madomasi
- Good! I will take them. I want to buy the tomatoeszvakanaka ndinomatora
- Go well! (Goodbye)fambai zvakanaka
- Stay well! (Goodbye)mosara zvakanaka
Lesson 9: Food and Drink
- SadzaSadza
- MeatNyama
- VegetablesMuriwo
- I am hungryndine nzara
- I am thirstyndine nyota
- I am fullndaguta
- I am hungry. Please may I have sadza and meat?ndine nzara ndokumbirawo sadza nenyama
- Thank you, Mother. I am full!maita basa amai ndaguta
- Yes, Mother. I am very hungry!hongu amai ndine nzara
- Thank you, Mother!mazvita amai
- This food is delicious!zviri kunaka
- Thank you, Mother. I am full. It was deliciousmazvita amai, ndaguta, chikafu changa chichinaka
Learn to speak Shona, not just read it
Yanai teaches you to speak with short audio lessons from native speakers, and checks your pronunciation as you go.