ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why learn Shona?
Shona is a Bantu language by about 34 million Shona people of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In Southern Africa, it has the highest number of native speakers of any Bantu language.Communication skills developed while learning Shona can improve your interpersonal skills in your native langauge as well. Your marketable skills in the global economy are improved when you master Shona. Communication skills developed while learning Shona can improve your interpersonal skills in your native langauge as well. Shona study leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Shona?
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Shona Alphabet & Pronunciation
a
[a]
[a]
e
[e]
[e]
i
[i]
[i]
o
[o]
[o]
u
[u]
[u]
b
[b]
[b]
bh
[b̤]
[b̤]
ch
[]
[]
d
[d]
[d]
dh
[d̤]
[d̤]
dzv
[]
[]
dy
[]
[]
f
[f]
[f]
g
[g/]
[g/]
h
[h]
[h]
j
[]
[]
k
[k]
[k]
l
[k]
[k]
m
[m]
[m]
mbw
[]
[]
mh
[m̤]
[m̤]
n
[n]
[n]
ng
[ŋ]
[ŋ]
p
[p]
[p]
r
[r]
[r]
s
[s]
[s]
sv
[]
[]
sw
[skw]
[skw]
t
[t]
[t]
ty
[]
[]
tsv
[]
[]
v
[]
[]
vh
[v]
[v]
w
[w]
[w]
y
[j]
[j]
z
[z]
[z]
zv
[]
[]
Basic Phrases in Shona
| Hello | Mhoro |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | Sara mushe |
| Yes | Ehe |
| No | Aihwa |
| Excuse me | Pamusoroi |
| Please | Ndapota |
| Thank you | Waita hako |
| You are welcome | Unogamuchirwa |
| Do you speak english | Unotaura Chirungu? |
| Do you understand | Unonzwisisa here? |
| I understand | Ndinonzwisisa |
| I do not understand | Handinzwisise |
| How are you | Makadii? |
| Fine thanks | Zvakanaka ndatenda! |
| What is your name | Zita rako ndiani? |
| My name is | Zita randu ndi |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndafara kukuziva (dafara kukuzia) |
Shona Grammar
Shona Nouns
| Man | |
|---|---|
| Woman | |
| Boy | |
| Girl | Musikana |
| Cat | |
| Dog | |
| Fish | |
| Water | |
| Milk | |
| Egg | |
| House | |
| Flower | |
| Tree | |
| Shirt | |
| Pants |
Shona Adjectives
Colors in Shona
| Black | Nhema |
|---|---|
| White | Chena |
| Red | Tsvuku |
| Orange | Orenji |
| Yellow | Yero |
| Green | Girinhi |
| Blue | Bhuruu |
| Purple | Pepuru |
| Pink | Pink |
| Gray | Girey (v) |
| Brown | Bhurawuni |
Numbers in Shona
| Zero | Zero |
|---|---|
| One | Imwe |
| Two | Vaviri |
| Three | Vatatu |
| Four | Mane |
| Five | Shanu |
| Six | Vatanhatu |
| Seven | Zvinomwe |
| Eight | Isere |
| Nine | Mapfumbamwe |
| Ten | Gumi |
| Eleven | Eleven |
| Twelve | Gumi nemaviri |
| Twenty | Makumi maviri |
| Thirty | Makumi matatu |
| Forty | Makumi mana |
| Fifty | Makumi mashanu |
| Sixty | Makumi matanhatu |
| Seventy | Makumi manomwe |
| Eighty | Makumi masere |
| Ninety | Makumi mapfumbamwe |
| Hundred | Zana |
| Thousand | Zviuru |
Shona Verbs
| To be | Kuva |
|---|---|
| To have | Kuva |
| To want | Kuda |
| To need | Kuda |
| To help | Kubatsira |
| To go | Kuenda |
| To come | Kuuya |
| To eat | Kudya |
| To drink | Kumwa |
| To speak | Kutaura |
Building Simple Sentences
More Complex Shona Sentences
| And | Uye |
|---|---|
| Or | Kana |
| But | Asi |
| Because | Nekuti |
| With | Na |
| Also | Zvakare |
| However | Zvisinei |
| Neither | Kana |
| Nor | Kana |
| If | Kana |
| Then | Ipapo |
Useful Shona Vocabulary
Shona Questions
| Who | Uyo |
|---|---|
| What | Chii |
| When | Riini |
| Where | Kupi |
| Why | Sei |
| How | Sei |
| How many | Zvingani |
| How much | Zvingani |
Days of the Week in Shona
| Monday | Muvhuro |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Chipiri |
| Wednesday | Chitatu |
| Thursday | China |
| Friday | Chishanu |
| Saturday | Mugovera |
| Sunday | Svondo |
| Yesterday | Nezuro |
| Today | Nhasi |
| Tomorrow | Mangwana |
Months in Shona
| January | Ndira |
|---|---|
| February | Kukadzi |
| March | Kurume |
| April | Kubvumbi |
| May | Chivabvu |
| June | Chikumi |
| July | Chikunguru |
| August | Nyamavhuvhu |
| September | Gunyana |
| October | Gumiguru |
| November | Mbudzi |
| December | Zvita |
Seasons in Shona
| Winter | Chando |
|---|---|
| Spring | Chitubu |
| Summer | Zhizha |
| Autumn | Autumn |
Telling Time in Shona
| What time is it | Inguvai? |
|---|---|
| Hours | Maawa |
| Minutes | Maminetsi |
| Seconds | Masekondi |
| O clock | O |
| Half | Hafu |
| Quarter past | Kota apfuura |
| Before | Zvisati zvaitika |
| After | Mushure |
