English is an official language and is widely spoken in Zimbabwe, so visitors manage fine without a word of anything else. But a greeting in Shona phrases or Ndebele changes the temperature of every interaction, and it costs nothing to learn ten of them.
Which language, where
Zimbabwe recognises sixteen official languages. In practice, Shona is most widely spoken across the north, east and centre of the country, including Harare; Ndebele is dominant in Bulawayo, Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands. English is the language of government, business and most signage. Tonga, Kalanga, Nambya, Venda, Shangani, Chewa and others are spoken in their own regions.
Shona: the essentials
- Mhoro — hello (to one person). Mhoroi — hello (to more than one, or politely).
- Makadii? — how are you? (polite/plural)
- Ndiripo, makadiiwo? — I am fine, and how are you?
- Maita basa / Ndatenda — thank you.
- Ndapota — please.
- Pamusoroi — excuse me / with respect (also used to get attention politely).
- Hongu — yes. Kwete — no.
- Zvakanaka — it is fine / good.
- Sarai zvakanaka — goodbye (said by the one leaving). Fambai zvakanaka — go well (said to the one leaving).
- Marii? — how much is it?
- Handinzwisisi — I do not understand.
- Munotaura Chirungu here? — do you speak English?
Ndebele: the essentials
- Sawubona — hello (to one person). Salibonani — hello (to several).
- Unjani? — how are you? Linjani? — how are you all?
- Ngiyaphila — I am well.
- Ngiyabonga — thank you.
- Uxolo — sorry / excuse me.
- Yebo — yes. Hatshi — no.
- Kuhle — it is good.
- Sala kahle — stay well (goodbye to the one staying). Hamba kahle — go well (to the one leaving).
- Kuyimalini? — how much is it?
- Angizwisisi — I do not understand.
- Uyakhuluma isiNgisi? — do you speak English?
Pronunciation notes
- Vowels are pure and consistent: a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in for, u as in flute.
- Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable.
- Shona's sv, zv and mh sounds have no exact English equivalent — listen and imitate rather than reading them as English.
- Ndebele includes click consonants inherited from the Nguni languages. Nobody expects a visitor to master them; the attempt is appreciated regardless.
Courtesy that matters more than vocabulary
- Greet before anything else. Starting a conversation with a request instead of a greeting reads as rude.
- Use both hands, or the right hand supported by the left, when giving or receiving something.
- Respect for elders is explicit. Greet the oldest person present first.
- Ask before photographing people, and never photograph government buildings, police or military installations.
- Clapping hands softly accompanies thanks and greetings in many settings — follow what those around you do.
Useful everyday words
Shona: mvura (water), chikafu (food), mari (money), mota (car), musha (home), chipatara (hospital). Ndebele: amanzi (water), ukudla (food), imali (money), imota (car), ikhaya (home), isibhedlela (hospital).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Shona or Ndebele to visit Zimbabwe?
No. English is an official language and is widely spoken, particularly in towns and in the tourism industry. A few local phrases are still warmly received.
How do you say thank you in Shona?
Maita basa, or ndatenda. Both are common and polite.
How do you say hello in Ndebele?
Sawubona to one person, salibonani to a group.
How many languages does Zimbabwe have?
Sixteen languages are officially recognised, with Shona, Ndebele and English the most widely used in daily life.
Is Shona hard to learn?
Pronunciation is regular and spelling is phonetic, which helps a great deal. Noun classes and verb structure take longer, but greetings can be learned in an afternoon.
Planning a trip? See places to visit in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean food.