Shona, also known as Chishona, is one of the official languages in Zimbabwe. It is also spoken in Malawi, Zambia and Botswana.
Tones
The Shona language has two tones: High tone marked by (á) and low tone marked by
(à).
Vowels
Shona has five vowels.
a (ah) - like in gang
e (ey) - like in hay
i (ee) - like in see
o (o) - like in so
u (oo) - like in broom
Shona does not have silent letters of diphthongs. When two vowels appear side by side in a word, each is pronounced separately. For example, the word Urikuteerera(listening) is pronounced Urikutay-ay-ra.
Consonants
The consonant system of Shona is characterized by breathy and whistled sounds.
The breathy consonants are represented by “h” after the initial consonant and are pronounced by vibrating the vocals. For example, bh, ch,dh, mh,nh,rh and vh.
The whistled sounds are pronounced by rounding the lip. For example, sv, dz, tsv, ty, ng.
N/B:
- The sound “L” is not used in most Shona dialects unless it is in a word adopted from a foreign language with little or no modification.
- The Shona language alphabet lacks the letters q and x.
Greetings in Shona
| English | Shona |
| Good evening. | manheru akanaka |
| Good morning. | mangwani akanaka |
| Good afternoon. | masikati akanaka |
| How are you? | makadi |
| How are you today? | uri sei nhasi |
| I am fine. | ndirinani |
| Have a good day. | iva nezuva rakanaka |
| I am doing great. | ndiri kuita zvakanaka |
| Hi/Hello. | mhoro |
| Nice to meet you. | zvakanaka kuzivana nemi |
| See you soon. | ndinokuwona manje manje |
| See you later. | ndichakuwona gare gare |
Shona Love Words and Phrases
| English | Shona |
| I love you. | ndinokuda |
| I miss you. | ndakusuwa |
| Love you so much | ndinokuda zvikuru |
| I want to see you. | ndoda kukuwona |
| I love you with all my heart. | Ndinokuda nemoyo wangu wese. |
| I love you too. | Ndokudawo |
| I want to see you. | Ndoda kukuwona |
| I like you. | ndinokufarira |
| You are beautiful. | wakanaka |
| My love. | mudiwa |
| You look beautiful. | wakanaka |
| My beautiful wife. | mukadzi wangu akanaka |
| I miss you so much, darling. | Ndakusuwa zvakanyanya, mudiwa. |
| I need you. | ndinokuda |
| You will miss me. | uchandisuwa |
| Goodbye, my love. | sara mshue, mudiwa |
| See you tomorrow. | tozoonana mangwana |
| I will marry you. | ndichakuroora |
| I want some space. | ndinoda nzvimbo |
| I need your love. | ndinoda rudo rwako |
| You are mine. | uriwangu |
Directions in Shona
| English | Shona |
| Where are you? | urikupi |
| Where did you go? | waenda kupi |
| Where do you live? | unogara kupi |
| Where are you going? | urikuebda kupi |
| Where were you? | wanga urikupi |
Common Questions in Conversations in Shona
| English | Shona |
| How much? | zvingani |
| How are you feeling? | urikunzwa sei |
| How have you been? | wanga uri sei |
| What is your name? | nguabni ibizo lakho |
| What are you doing? | urikuitei |
| What are you cooking/eating? | urikibikei/urikudyei |
| Are you okay, dear? | uri kunzwa mushe here |
| When are you coming? | unouya rinhi |
| How was your night/day? | Husiku/masikati wange wakadii? |
| How are you doing? | Wakadii hako |
| How is your family? | Makadii mhuri yenyu |
| How was your day? | Zuva rako ranga rakadii |
| What is wrong? | chii chakaipa |
| What do you mean? | unorevei |
| How's the weather over there? | Mamiriro ekunze ari sei ikoko? |
| Have you gone to church? | Waenda kukereke here? |
| What is this? | Ichi chii? |
| What's going on? | Chii chirikuitika? |
| Are you listening? | Urikuteerera here? |
| Have you heard? | Wakambonzwa here? |
| Can I go home? | Ndingaenda kumba here? |
| Can I ask something? | Ndingabvunza chimwe chinhu? |
| How is everything? | Zvinhu zvese zviri sei? |
| What’s your phone number? | Nhamba yako yefoni ndeipi? |
Everyday Conversations in Shona
| English | Shona |
| Happy birthday | zuva rakanaka rokuberekwa |
| Thank you | ndinotenda |
| I am sorry | ndiregere |
| You are welcome. | tinokugamuchira |
| Me too! | neni |
| God bless you. | mwari vakukomborere |
| May god protect you. | mwari vakuchengete |
| She is happy. | anofara |
| Please help me. | ndibatsire |
| I don't know. | andizive |
| I will come tomorrow. | ndinouya mangwana |
| Come here! | wuya kuno |
| Feel at home. | uzizwe usekhaya |
| Be blessed. | mwari vakukomborere |
| I am coming soon. | ndinouya izozo |
| Excuse me. | ruregerero |
| Leave me alone. | siyana neni |
| It is okay. | kwakanaka |
| I am going home. | ndirikuenda kumba |
| I don't want. | andidi |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | rudo chinhu chakanaka |
| Let me try. | ndinoda kuyedza |
| Welcome home. | tinokugamuchira kumusha |
| I reached home safely. | ndaswika kumusha |
| God is good. | mwari vakanaka |
| I don't understand. | andinzwisisi |
| We are happy to see you. | tinofara kukuwonai |
| I have it. | ndinacho/ndinayo |
| Rest in peace. | urare murunyararo |
| I don't have money. | andina mari |
| I am done. | ndapedza |
| I am going to the shop. | ndirikuyenda kuzwitoro |
| Happy new year. | gore ritswa rakanaka |
| Bad manners. | mayitiro akaipa |
| Stop using your phone. | siyana nefoni |
| I need a favour, please. | ndinoda rupatsiro |
| Haven’t seen you for ages. | nguva yakarepa ndisingakuone |
| Great to see you again. | tafara kukuona |
| I really appreciate it. | ndinotenda |
| You made my day. | wandifadza nhasi |
| No problem. | zvakanaka |
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