Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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Learning how to tell time in Shona is an essential skill for anyone looking to communicate effectively in the language. Shona, the most widely spoken Bantu language, uses a similar time-telling system as English. However, learning the basics of the Shona time-telling system is still necessary for communication, and it's also a great way to learn about the Shona culture. In this lesson, you will learn how to tell time in Shona, including hours and minutes.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Fruits and Vegetables & Numbers.
Telling Time in Shona[edit | edit source]
In Shona, like in English, there are two types of clocks used: digital and analog. The analog clock is commonly used in most parts of the world, but the digital clock is more precise and more common in the modern world. In Shona, both types of clocks use the same time-telling system as English, which is the 12-hour system. The majority of Shona speakers, however, do not write out military or 24-hour time.
Shona hours[edit | edit source]
| Shona | Pronunciation | Translation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mambakwedza / Mashambanzou | 4:00 - 4:59am | ||
| Runyanhiriri / Mufuramhembwe | 5:00 - 5:59am | ||
| Mazambambira | 6:00 - 9:59am | ||
| Madziyamushanda / rudziyakamwe | the heat of early morning light | 10:00 - 11:59am | |
| Masikati [rurovanhongonya] | mid-day | 12:00 - 14:59pm | |
| Madeukira | the time when the sun has moved from the center | 15:00 - 16:59pm | |
| Rufuramhembwe [madekwana] | proper evening; similar to mafuramhembwe of morning. | 17:00 - 17:59pm | |
| Rukunzvikunzvi | 18:00 - 18:59pm | ||
| Ruvhunzavaeni [manhoko] | 19:00 - 19:59pm | ||
| Husiku | 20:00pm - 3:59am |
Hours using O'clock[edit | edit source]
The Shona language uses numbers to tell time in hours. The hours from 1 AM to 12 PM are the same as those in English.
AM (ante meridiem) meaning "before the afternoon" is often translated and spoken in Shona as either "dzemangwanani" or "dzemakuseni" (both meaning "of the morning").
- Hence AM, will be KSN to remind readers that "dzekuseni" is the proper way of conversing in Shona in order to be understood.
PM (post meridiem) meaning "after the afternoon" is often translated and spoken in Shona as either "dzemasikati" (of the afternoon) when closer to the afternoon or "dzemadekwa/ dzemadokwa" (of the evening) as it gets darker.
- Hence PM, will be MSK and/or MDKthis is to different between the two "afternoons", there is the broad daylight afternoon "masikati (MSK)" and the evening-to-dark afternoon "madekwa/madokwa(MDK)"
In the following reading please be aware that the "nh" sound in Shona is unlike the "n" sound in English and Shona, and must always be written with an "h" otherwise the word changes meaning. The letter "h" is used to form heavier breathy sounds, you can find it in dh, nh, mh, bh etcetera.
- Additionally, the "va" in nguva is implosive and is neither a "v" or "w", however, it is better to replace it with W as other languages of Shona do use "Wa" in place of "Va". So nguva can in-fact be nguwa.
| Shona | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| nguva (12:00KSN) | ngoo-wa | time (12.00AM) |
| nhambo/awa | nn-ha-mm-bo / ah-wah | hour |
| kumamotsi | ku-ma-mo-tsee | one o'clock |
| kumaviri/kumapiri | koo-ma-wee-ree/koo-ma-pee-ree | two o'clock |
| kumatatu | koo-ma-ta-too | three o'clock |
| kumaina | koo-ma-ee-na | four o'clock |
| kumashanu | koo-ma-sha-noo | five o'clock |
| kumatanhatu | koo-ma-ta-nn-ha-too | six o'clock |
| kumanomwe | koo-ma-no-mm-we | seven o'clock |
| kumasere | koo-ma-se-re | eight o'clock |
| kumapfumbamwe | koo-ma-pfoom-ba-mm-we | nine o'clock |
| kumagumi | koo-ma-goo-mee | ten o'clock |
| kumaguminerimwe | koo-ma-goo-mee ne-ree-mm-we | eleven o'clock |
| kumaguminembiri | koo-ma-goo-mee ne-mm-bee-ree | twelve o'clock |
| nhambo (1:00MSK nemberi) | nn-ha-mm-bo | hour (1:00PM onwards) |
| nguva (5:00MDK nemberi) | ngoo-wa | time (5.00PM onwards) |
Time portion[edit | edit source]
Minutes[edit | edit source]
A minute in Shona can be translated as mhindi or if following English as mineti. Minutes are usually not pronounced in numbers; "past" and "to" are used instead.
- "Past" is translated as "kupfuura", which means "passing". For instance, if it is 3:10 in Shona, it is pronounced as "mamhindi makumi kupfuura nhambo-ritatu" or "mamhindi makumi kupfuura awa-ritatu" (trans. ten minutes passing the third-hour).
- "To" is translated as "kusvika", which can be compared to the English word "to arrive to/until". For instance, if it is 3:50 in Shona, it is pronounced as "mamhindi makumi kusvika nhambo-rina" (trans. ten minutes until the fourth hour) or "nhambo-ritatu nemamhindi makumimashanu" (trans. the third hour and fifty minutes; "three-fifty" basically).
It's important to note here that the word "kusvika" can be omitted as in the second example.
Seconds[edit | edit source]
In Shona a second is chepiri or sekondi using the English borrowed term.
- 3:10:02 (three hours ten minutes and two seconds) would be translated as "nhambo-ritatu mamhindi makumi nezvepiri zviviri"
- 3:50:02 (three hours fifty minutes and two seconds) would be translated as "nhambo-ritatu mamhindi makumimashanu nezvepiri zviviri".
Half-past[edit | edit source]
The term half-past is translated in Shona as chidimbu-kupfuura, although kupfuura can actually be omitted as chidimbu tells you that you are midway of the hour.
- 6:30am would be translated as "chidimbu chenhambo ritanhatu rekuseni (6:30ksn)" or "chidimbu chemamhambo matanhatu" (trans. half of the sixth hour of the morning)
- 1:30pm would be translated as "chidimbu chenhambo rimwe remasikati (1:30msk)" (trans. half of the first hour of the afternoon)
Quarter-to and Quarter-past[edit | edit source]
The term quarter-to in Shona can be translated two ways chipandi-kusvika.
- 10:45am would be translated as "chipandi kusvika nhambo reguminerimwe rekuseni (10:45ksn)" (trans. a quarter to arrive to the 11th hour in the morning)
- 12:45pm would be translated as "chipandi kusvika nhambo regumimbiri remasikati (12:45msk)" (trans. a quarter to arrive to the 12th hour in the afternoon)
The term quarter-past in Shona can translated two ways as well chipanda-kupfuura.
- 9:15am would be translated as "chipandi kupfuura nhambo repfumbamwe kumakuseni (9:15ksn)" (trans. a quarter passing the 9th hour of the morning)
- 11:15pm would be translated as "chipandi kupfuura nhambo reguminerimwe remadokwa(11:15mdk)" (trans. a quarter passing the 11th hour of the night)
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are a few examples of how to tell time in Shona:
- 5:45 is "chipandi kusvika nhambo rechitanhatu" (trans. quarter until the 6th hour)
- 10:30 is "chidimbu chenhambo rechigumi"
- 12:15 is "chipandi kupfuura nhambo regumimbiri"
- 1:50 is "mamhindi makumi kusvika nhambo ripiri" (trans. 10 minutes to arrive to the 2nd hour)
- 9:20 is "mamhindi gumi kupfuura nhambo repfumbamwe" (trans. 20 minutes passing/since the 9th hour)
- 2:02 is "mamhindi mairi kupfuura nhambo ripiri"
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Learning how to tell time in Shona is a crucial skill for anyone who wishes to communicate in Shona. It enables efficient communication and provides an insight into a culture that is deeply rooted in its traditions. By learning the basics of Shona time-telling, you can expand your knowledge of the language and potentially use it to impress Shona speakers you meet.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Express Surprise
- Describing Relationships
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Ordering at a Restaurant
- Introducing Yourself
- Languages
- Talking about Money
- Family Members
- Colors
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Shona - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
- Shona Learning Resources – Resources for Self-Instructional ...
- Chishona - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
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