SHONA GREETING PRACTICE

what is your name?; Said to someone above you, formal

Munonzi ani?

you, what are you called?

Iwe unonziani

your name, what is it?

Zita rako ndiani?

Name

Zita

what's your name?; Said to someone equal to you, informal

Unonzi Ani?

Hey, my name is ___, and you?

"Mhoro, zita rangu ndi/ndinonzi ___(your name), koiwewe?"

name of mine is ____

Zita rangu ndi ____ (your name)

Hello (informal), my name is Tino, and you?

Mhoro, ndinonzi Tino, koiwewe?

I am called Rudo

Ndinonzi Rudo

I am called Timothee

Ndinonzi Timothee

My name is Tariro

Zita rangu ndi Tariro

I am called Mai Chipo

Ndinonzi Mai Chipo

morning/good morning; said to greet someone after they have woken up

Mangwanani

how did you sleep?

Marara sei?

how did you wake up?

Mamuka sei?

we slept (fine) if you slept (fine); this is the response to mamuka sei or marara sei, the "ta" makes this word plural

Tarara mararawo

I slept (fine) if you slept (fine); this is the response to mamuka sei or marara sei, the "nda" makes this word singular

Ndarara mararawo

we woke up (fine) if you woke up (fine); again, the "ta" makes this plural

Tamuka mamukawo

I woke up (fine) if you woke up (fine); the "nda" makes this singular

Ndamuka mamukawo

afternoon/good afternoon

Masikati

how was your day?; this is asked after greeting someone with "masikati"

Maswera sei?

evening/good evening

Manheru

I have had a good day if you have had a good day.

Ndaswera maswerawo

What does 'nda' do in the phrase 'Ndaswera maswerawo'?

It makes the statement singular (it means “I" or “me”)

we have had a good day if you have had a good day

Taswera maswerawo

Hello; a polite way to greet someone. For example, "______ gogo" means "hello gran"

Mhoroi

How are you?

Makadii

What is a formal way to ask how someone is doing in Shona?

'Makadii'

What does the 'ma' do in the word 'Makadii'?

It makes the question plural/formal (you would use it to greet a group or someone older than you)

Hey; an informal way to greet someone. For example, "_____ sisi!" means "hey sis"

Mhoro or Hesi

how are you?; An informal way to ask how someone is doing. The "wa" makes this singular

Wakadii

we are fine, how are you?; The "ti" indicates that this is plural, and the "ma" makes this formal and polite.

Tiripo makadiiwo

I am fine, how are you? (singular, formal)

Ndiripo, makadiiwo?

I am fine, how are you?; plural, friendly

Ndiribo, wakadiiwo

Stay/remain well; This is a way to say goodbye to someone as you leave them

Chisarai

go/travel well; this is a way to say goodbye to someone as they leave you

mufambe zvakanaka

This simply means "go"

Chifambai

Mangwanani, unobva kupi?

Good morning, where are you from?

Good morning, what are you called?

Mangwanani, iwe unonzi ani?

Good morning, what is your name? (formal)

Mangwanani, munonzi ani?

Musare zvakanaka shamwari.

stay well, friend.

Where are you from? (singular, informal)

Unobva kupi?

I come from Zimbabwe

Ndinobva kuZimbabwe

I come from America

Ndinobva kuAmerica

Where do I come from?

Ndinobva kupi?

Where am I from? I’m from Harare

Ndinobva kupi? Ndinobva kuHarare

Where are you from? (formal/plural)

Munobva kupi?

I come from the Chivi area

Ndinoba kwaChivi

I come from the Mutoko area

Ndinobva kwaMutoko

I come from the Gutu area

Ndinobva kwaGutu.

Where are you from? (plural/formal) I am from the Seke area.

Munobva kupi? Ndinobva kwaSeke.