In this post, you will learn how to say ‘how are you?’ in Shona. You’ll also learn common responses so you can respond if you’re asked this question. This can be really useful if you’re speaking with someone from Zimbabwe or if you’re travelling there.
Shona is a Bantu language spoken by the Shona people who are primarily based in Zimbabwe. There are over 8.8 million native speakers of this language.
Table of Contents
How To Say ‘How Are You?’ In Shona
There are a few different ways to ask ‘how are you?’. Here are the most common:
Use these in more formal situations, such as with elders or people you don’t know:
| How are you? | Mhoroi? |
| How are you? | Makadii? |
In most situations, you can use:
| How are you? (if you’re speaking to one person) | Wakadii? |
| How are you? (if you’re speaking to one person) | Makadii zvako? |
| How are you? (if you’re speaking to a group) | Makadii zvenyu? |
| Are you ok? | Unofara here? |
How To Respond To ‘How Are You?’ In Shona
There are many different ways that you can reply to this question. Below are the most common responses to this question. I’ve also included how to say ‘thank you’ as it’s polite to thank someone if they ask how you are.
| Thank you | Ndatenda |
| I’m fine | Ndirirayiti |
| I’m fine | Ndiripo |
| I’m good | Ndakasimba |
| Fine/well | Ndinofara |
| Fine | Tiripo |
| I’m doing really well | Ini ndinofaro chaizuo |
| I’m sick | Ndiri kurwara |
It’s also useful to know how to say ‘and you?’ or ‘what about you?’ to find out how someone else is if they ask you.
| And you? | Makadiiwo? |
Check out the video below to hear the pronunciation of some of these phrases from a native speaker:
This video also covers some of the phrases:
Example Conversation:
Person 1: Wakadii? (How are you?)
Person 2: Ndiripo, ndatenda. Makadiiwo? (I’m fine, thank you. And you?)
Person 1: Ndakasimba (I’m good)
Thanks for reading this post.
You should now know how to say ‘how are you?’ in Shona and you should also be able to respond if you’re asked!
You can’t go wrong with these simple phrases.
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