Language/Shona/Grammar/Questions
Hi Shona learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Shona questions. We will cover the different question words, how to form questions in Shona, and some examples to help you understand better. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to ask and answer several types of questions.
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Learn about Gender in Shona Grammar, Adjectives and Adverbs, Question Words & Connecting Sentences.
Question Words[edit | edit source]
Just like in English, Shona has several question words that are used to form different types of questions. Here are some of the most common ones:
| Shona | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ndiri kuda kurara here? | ndee-ree koo-dah koo-rah-rah heh-reh? | Am I allowed to sleep? |
| Kune vakawanda venyu kuchurch kwandiri? | koo-neh vah-kah-wahn-dah vay-nu koo-choor-ch kwah-ndee-ree | Are there many of you going to my church? |
| Ndoda kusarudza hangu neteam yangu. | n-doh-dah koo-sah-rood-zah hahn-goo neh-teh-am yahn-goo | I want to play with my team. |
| Mhuka yacho yakapenga here? | mhoo-kah yah-choo yah-kah-pen-gah heh-reh? | Is your goat crazy? |
| Wakambomira here ndiende kumba? | wah-kahm-boh-meer-ah heh-reh ndee-en-deh koo-mbah? | Did you wait for me to go home? |
Forming Questions[edit | edit source]
To form a question in Shona, you can simply add the question word at the beginning of the sentence, and change the intonation to indicate that it is a question.
For example:
- Ndoda kusarudza hangu neteam yangu. (I want to play with my team.) - Ko ndoda kusarudza? (What do I want to play?)
In this example, we added the question word "ko" (meaning 'what') at the beginning of the sentence, and changed the intonation to indicate that it is a question. The answer to this question would be "ndoda kusarudza hangu neteam yangu" ("I want to play with my team").
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are some more examples to help you understand how to form questions in Shona:
- Person 1: Ndinoda kuti mutsva wandakabata ndewako. (I want the key I gave you)
- Person 2: Mutsva wandakabata unenge wakashandisei? (How did you use the key I gave you?)
- Person 1: Musha mukuru here? (Is this a big village?)
- Person 2: Aah, ndeachava. (No, it's not)
- Person 1: Uri kuita se? (What are you doing?)
- Person 2: Ndiri kuteerera mukana wangu waunotora pandiri. (I am waiting for my turn)
- Person 1: Unoda kudya here? (Do you want to eat?)
- Person 2: Aah, ndingagoni. (No, I'm not hungry)
- Person 1: Denga rinovharwa here? (Is the sky blue?)
- Person 2: Aah, rinozouya. (No, it's raining)
Tips[edit | edit source]
- Practice, practice, practice! The more you form questions in Shona, the easier it will become. - Listen to native speakers and try to imitate their tone and intonation when asking questions. - Use Polyglot Club, find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have!
Sources[edit | edit source]
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Conditional Mood
- Adjectives
- Plurals
- How to Use Be
- Negation
- Pronouns
- Gender
- Give your Opinion
- How to Use Have