Languages of Zimbabwe

Languages of Zimbabwe

By Antoinette van Heerden

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Zimbabwe has 16 official languages: English, Shona, Ndebele, Shangani, Sotho, Venda, Kalanga, Nambya, Chewa, sign language, Tonga, Chibarwe, Ndau, Tswana, Koisan, and Xhosa. Shone, Ndebele and English are the most widely spoken languages. While travelling in Zimbabwe in tourist areas you’ll find a lot of people who speak English.

Learning the dialects of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a linguistically diverse country with 16 official languages, each representing unique ethnic groups and cultural traditions. Learn to say hello, goodbye and even a few common phrases with us.

Shona:

Predominantly spoken by the Shona people, it is the most widely used language in Zimbabwe, with various dialects like Zezuru, Karanga, and Manyika.

• Greeting: “Mhoro” (mm-HO-roh) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Sara zvakanaka” (sah-RAH zvah-kah-NAH-kah) – Stay well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Maita basa” (my-EE-tah BAH-sah) – Thank you for your work.
  • “Ndapota” (n-dah-POH-tah) – Please.
  • “Ndiri kufara” (ndee-ree koo-FAH-rah) – I am happy.
  • “Chokwadi” (choh-KWAH-dee) – Truly/Really.
  • “Mhoroi” (mm-HO-roh-ee) – Excuse me.

Ndebele:

Spoken mainly in the western part of Zimbabwe, it is the language of the Ndebele people, known for its rich oral traditions.

• Greeting: “Salibonani” (sah-lee-boh-NAH-nee) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Hamba kahle” (HAM-bah KAH-leh) – Go well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ngiyabonga” (ngee-yah-BOH-ngah) – Thank you.
  • “Kulungile” (koo-LOO-ngih-leh) – It is fine.
  • “Ngicela” (ngee-CHEH-lah) – Please.
  • “Ngiyavuma” (ngee-yah-VOO-mah) – I agree.
  • “Uxolo” (oo-KSOH-loh) – Sorry.

English:

Used in government, education, and business, English is a key language for communication in urban and professional settings.

• Greeting: “Hello” (heh-LOH) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Goodbye” (good-BYE) – Goodbye
• Common Phrases:
  • “Thank you” (THANGK yoo) – Thank you.
  • “Please” (pleez) – Please.
  • “How are you?” (how ar yoo) – How are you?
  • “Excuse me” (ehks-KYOOZ mee) – Excuse me.
  • “I’m fine” (aim fain) – I’m fine.

Chewa:

Also known as Chichewa, it is spoken by the Chewa people, primarily in the eastern regions of Zimbabwe.

• Greeting: “Moni” (MOH-nee) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Ndapita” (n-dah-PEE-tah) – I’m leaving.
• Common Phrases:
  • “Zikomo” (zee-KOH-moh) – Thank you.
  • “Pepani” (peh-PAH-nee) – Sorry.
  • “Chonde” (CHON-deh) – Please.
  • “Ndili bwino” (n-dee-LEE BWEE-noh) – I am fine.
  • “Ndamva” (n-DAHM-vah) – I understand.

Chibarwe:

A minority language, it is used by some ethnic groups in Zimbabwe, contributing to the country’s linguistic diversity.

• Greeting: “Mhoroi” (mm-HO-roh-ee) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Fambai zvakanaka” (fahm-BAI zvah-kah-NAH-kah) – Go well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ndinokutendai” (ndee-noh-koo-TEN-die) – I thank you.
  • “Pamusoroi” (pah-moo-SOH-roh-ee) – Excuse me.
  • “Ndokumbirawo” (ndo-KOOM-bee-rah-woh) – Please.
  • “Ndiri pano” (ndee-ree PAH-noh) – I am here.
  • “Ndine dambudziko” (ndee-neh dahm-boo-ZEE-koh) – I have a problem.

Kalanga:

Spoken by the Kalanga people, it is mainly used in the southwestern parts of Zimbabwe.

• Greeting: “Thobela” (tho-BEH-lah) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Sala gabotse” (sah-lah GAH-bot-seh) – Stay well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ndakuyamura” (ndah-koo-YAH-moo-rah) – I appreciate you.
  • “Re leboga” (reh leh-BOH-gah) – Thank you.
  • “Tshwarelo” (tshwah-REH-loh) – Sorry.
  • “O ka kgona?” (oh kah kh-GOH-nah) – Can you manage?
  • “Ke tla bona” (keh TLAH boh-nah) – I will see.

Koisan:

Encompassing several dialects, it is spoken by the indigenous San people, who have a deep cultural heritage linked to this language.

• Greeting: “Kia” (KEE-ah) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Na khutsw” (nah KHOOTS) – Go well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ehar” (eh-HAR) – Thank you.
  • “Suhah” (soo-HAH) – Please.
  • “Ima” (EE-mah) – Come.
  • “Tsha” (TSHAH) – Go.
  • “Nganaha” (ngah-NAH-hah) – Wait.

Nambya:

A language of the Nambya people, it is primarily spoken in the northwest, around Hwange.

• Greeting: “Muli bwanji” (moo-LEE bwan-jee) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Tionana” (tee-oh-NAH-nah) – See you
• Common Phrases:
  • “Tatenda” (tah-TEN-dah) – Thank you.
  • “Chinzwai” (chee-NZWAH-ee) – Listen.
  • “Ndapota” (n-dah-POH-tah) – Please.
  • “Murare” (moo-RAH-reh) – Sit down.
  • “Ndili bwino” (n-dee-LEE BWEE-noh) – I am fine.

Ndau:

Found in the eastern border regions, it is a language with close ties to the Shona group but distinct in its own right.

• Greeting: “Mhoroi” (mm-HO-roh-ee) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Fambai zvakanaka” (fahm-BAI zvah-kah-NAH-kah) – Go well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ndinoonga” (ndee-NOHN-gah) – I thank you.
  • “Ndinokumbira” (ndee-noh-KOOM-bee-rah) – Please.
  • “Ndiri bho” (ndee-ree BHOH) – I am fine.
  • “Chokwadi” (choh-KWAH-dee) – Truly/Really.
  • “Ndapota” (n-dah-POH-tah) – Please.

Shangani:

Also known as Tsonga, it is spoken by the Shangani people in the southeastern parts of Zimbabwe.

• Greeting: “Avuxeni” (ah-voo-SHAY-nee) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Tsalani kahle” (tsah-LAH-nee KAH-leh) – Stay well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ndza khensa” (n-dzah KHEN-sah) – Thank you.
  • “Ndzi kombela” (ndzee KOM-beh-lah) – Please.
  • “Ndzi tlangela” (ndzee TLAHN-gay-lah) – I appreciate.
  • “Xana u pfuka kahle?” (shah-nah oo poo-KAH KAH-leh) – Did you wake up well?
  • “Ndzi rhandza” (ndzee RHAHN-dah) – I love.

Sotho:

Used by the Sotho people, primarily in the Matabeleland region, it shares linguistic features with Southern Sotho of Lesotho.

• Greeting: “Dumela” (doo-MEH-lah) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Sala hantle” (sah-lah HAHN-tleh) – Stay well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ke a leboha” (keh-ah leh-BOH-hah) – Thank you.
  • “Hantle” (HAN-tleh) – Well/Fine.
  • “Kopa” (KOH-pah) – Please.
  • “A na le bothata?” (ah nah leh boh-THAH-tah) – Do you have a problem?
  • “Tsamaya hantle” (tsah-MAH-yah HAHN-tleh) – Go well.

Tonga:

Spoken by the Tonga people in the Zambezi Valley, this language is known for its rich cultural expressions.

• Greeting: “Mwabuka buti” (mwa-BOO-kah BOO-tee) – Hello (morning)
• Goodbye: “Tionana” (tee-oh-NAH-nah) – See you
• Common Phrases:
  • “Natotela” (nah-TOH-teh-lah) – Thank you.
  • “Ndapota” (n-dah-POH-tah) – Please.
  • “Bwino” (BWEE-noh) – Good/Fine.
  • “Ihamba” (ee-HAHM-bah) – Go.
  • “Chonde” (CHON-deh) – Please.

Tswana:

A language of the Tswana people, it is spoken in the southwestern parts of Zimbabwe and has similarities with the Tswana language in Botswana.

• Greeting: “Dumelang” (doo-MEH-lang) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Sala sentle” (sah-lah SENT-leh) – Stay well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ke a leboga” (keh-ah leh-BOH-ghah) – Thank you.
  • “Tswala” (TSWAH-lah) – Close.
  • “Kopa” (KOH-pah) – Please.
  • “O kae?” (oh KAH-eh) – How are you?
  • “Ke tla boela” (keh TLAH boh-EH-lah) – I will return.

Venda:

Spoken by the Venda people, mainly in the southern regions close to the South African border.

• Greeting: “Ndaa” (n-DAH) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Ndi do vha vhona” (n-dee DOH vhah VOH-nah) – I will see you
• Common Phrases:
  • “Ndi a livhuwa” (ndee-ah lee-VHOO-wah) – Thank you.
  • “Azwimisi” (ah-ZWEE-mee-see) – No problem.
  • “Kha vha edele zwavhudi” (kah vah EH-deh-leh zwah-VHOO-dee) – Sleep well.
  • “Ndi khou tsha” (ndee KHOH tshah) – I am leaving.
  • “Vhaḓi amba na nṋe” (vhah-DEE AH-mbah nah NNEH) – Speak with me.

Xhosa:

Predominantly used by the Xhosa people in the Matabeleland South province, it shares features with the Xhosa language in South Africa.

• Greeting: “Molo” (MOH-loh) – Hello
• Goodbye: “Sala kakuhle” (sah-LAH kah-KOOH-leh) – Stay well
• Common Phrases:
  • “Enkosi” (ehn-KOH-see) – Thank you.
  • “Uxolo” (oo-KSOH-loh) – Sorry.
  • “Nceda” (n-CEH-dah) – Please.
  • “Ndiyavuya” (n-dee-yah-VOO-yah) – I am happy.
  • “Ndiphilile” (n-dee-pee-LEE-leh) – I am fine.

Sign Language:

Recognized for the deaf community, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in communication for all citizens.

• Greeting: A wave of the hand – Hello
• Goodbye: A wave of the hand – Goodbye
• Common Phrases:
  • A thumbs-up – Thank you.
  • Pointing to the ear and shaking the head – I can’t hear.
  • Placing hands together and moving them back and forth – Please.
  • Pointing to oneself and then to the other person – Me and you.
  • Nodding with a smile – Yes.

Have some fun, learn a few phrases in the local languages, and see if you can surprise your guide on your next safari to Zimbabwe! Engaging with the local languages not only enriches your travel experience but also helps you connect more deeply with the culture and people of Zimbabwe. Whether it’s greeting someone with a friendly “Mhoro” or expressing gratitude with a heartfelt “Ngiyabonga,” these small efforts can make a big difference. Enjoy your adventure and make lasting memories by speaking the local language!