Mashoko eMumba · Shona Around the House
Parent-Child Daily Routines (Mashoko eMumba)
The easiest way for children to grow up speaking Shona is hearing 2 or 3 warm phrases every day during bath time, mealtime, getting dressed, and bedtime. Tap any phrase to hear it, or print this page for your kitchen fridge!
冷蔵庫
💡 Dzokorora mashoko mashoma zuva nezuva — mwana anodzidza nekuteerera nekuita.
Repeat a few phrases at the same moment every day — toddlers learn fastest when words are tied to real actions.
🌅
Kumuka Mangwanani
Morning Wake-Up Routine
Opening curtains & greeting the day
Mangwanani, mwana wangu!
Good morning, my child!
/ mah-ngwah-NAH-nee MWAH-nah WAHN-goo /
Warara sei?
How did you sleep?
/ wah-RAH-rah SEH-ee /
Ndarara zvakanaka!
I slept well!
/ ndah-RAH-rah zvah-kah-NAH-kah /
Muka tibude, zuva rabuda!
Wake up, the sun has risen!
/ MOO-kah tee-BOO-deh ZOO-vah rah-BOO-dah /
🛁
Kugeza neKupfeka
Bath Time & Getting Dressed
Washing hands, brushing teeth & putting on shoes
Ngatigeze maoko nemvura.
Let's wash our hands with water.
/ ngah-tee-GEH-zeh mah-OH-koh neh-MVOO-rah /
Geza kumeso nemazino.
Wash your face and teeth.
/ GEH-zah koo-MEH-soh neh-mah-ZEE-noh /
Pfeka hembe nebhutsu dzako.
Put on your shirt and your shoes.
/ PFEH-kah HEHM-beh neh-BHOO-tsoo DZAH-koh /
Wachena kwazvo!
You look so clean and smart!
/ wah-CHEH-nah KWAH-zvoh /
🥣
Nguva yeKudya
Mealtime & At the Table
Breakfast porridge, lunch, water & thanking the cook
Huya tidye chikafu!
Come, let's eat food!
/ HOO-yah tee-DYEH chee-KAH-foo /
Unoda mvura here? Ndapota.
Would you like water? Please.
/ oo-NOH-dah MVOO-rah HEH-reh ndah-POH-tah /
Chikafu chinonaka kwazvo!
The food is very delicious!
/ chee-KAH-foo chee-noh-NAH-kah KWAH-zvoh /
Mazvita, ndaguta!
Thank you, I am full!
/ mah-ZVEE-tah ndah-GOO-tah /
🎈
Nguva yeKutamba
Playtime, Sharing & Praise
Playing indoors/outdoors & encouraging kindness
Huya titambe pamwe chete!
Come let's play together!
/ HOO-yah tee-TAHM-beh PAHM-weh CHEH-teh /
Goverana neshamwari yako.
Share kindly with your friend.
/ goh-veh-RAH-nah neh-shah-MWAH-ree YAH-koh /
Waita zvako! Wagona!
Well done! You did great!
/ WAI-tah ZVAH-koh wah-GOH-nah /
Ndine urombo, shamwari.
I am sorry, my friend.
/ NDEE-neh oo-ROHM-boh shah-MWAH-ree /
🧺
Kuronga Imba neKubatsira
Tidying Up & Little Helpers
Putting away toys & helping around the house
Isa matoyi mukati mebhokisi.
Put the toys inside the box.
/ EE-sah mah-TOH-yee moo-KAH-tee meh-bhoh-KEE-see /
Huya undibatsire, ndapota.
Come and help me, please.
/ HOO-yah oo-ndee-bah-TSEE-reh ndah-POH-tah /
Tatenda! Uri mwana ane tsika.
Thank you! You are a polite child.
/ tah-TEHN-dah OO-ree MWAH-nah AH-neh TSEE-kah /
Pamusoroi, ndipfuurewo.
Excuse me, may I pass.
/ pah-moo-soh-ROH-ee ndee-pfoo-oo-REH-woh /
🌙
Kurara Manheru (Ngano neHope)
Bedtime, Storytime & Goodnight
Reading a Shona folktale & tucking into bed
Manheru! Inguva yekurara.
Good evening! It is time to sleep.
/ mah-NHEH-roo ee-NGOO-vah yeh-koo-RAH-rah /
Ngativerenge ngano yeChiShona.
Let's read a Shona bedtime story.
/ ngah-tee-veh-REHN-geh NGAH-noh yeh-chee-SHOH-nah /
Ndinokuda kwazvo, mwana wangu.
I love you so much, my child.
/ ndee-noh-KOO-dah KWAH-zvoh MWAH-nah WAHN-goo /
Rara zvakanaka, urote zvakanaka!
Sleep well and have sweet dreams!
/ RAH-rah zvah-kah-NAH-kah oo-ROH-teh zvah-kah-NAH-kah /