Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-10
Shona is a Bantu language spoken by the Shona people in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana. It is the most widely spoken language in Zimbabwe, with over 11 million speakers. Learning Shona is a great way to appreciate the diverse culture of Zimbabwe and its people.
In this lesson, you will learn the Shona numbers from 1 to 10 and how to use them in sentences. This is a fundamental aspect of the Shona language that will allow you to talk about time, dates, and various numerical values.
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Languages & Drinks.
Numbers 1-10
In Shona, numbers from 1 to 10 are:
| Shona | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| mamwe | muhm-weh | one |
| maviri | muh-vi-ri | two |
| matatu | muh-tuh-tu | three |
| manharu | muh-nyah-ru | four |
| mashanu | muh-shah-noo | five |
| makumi matanhatu | muh-koo-mee muh-tah-nyah-too | six |
| makumi mangani | muh-koo-mee mahn-gah-nee | seven |
| marwadzi | muh-rwa-ji | eight |
| mazana | muh-zah-nah | nine |
| gumi | goo-mee | ten |
It is important to note that the Shona language has different noun classes that affect the agreement of numbers. For instance, when expressing the number "two," the singular noun class prefers "rerwi" instead of "maviri." If you are in doubt, ask a native speaker or consult a reference book.
Here are some examples of how to use these numbers in simple sentences:
- Pamela rinonokura maviri kana matatu. (Pamela has two or three children.)
- Tatenda ndiye ane manharu erasha. (Tatenda is four years old.)
- Zuva rino ndiyo chete yakazara mashanu. (Today is only the fifth day of the month.)
- Munhu wese anoda makumi mangani. (Everyone needs seven things.)
- Yosefu anofamba kuenda kuchikoro magumigumi. (Joseph walks to school every day.)
It's that simple! Now, you can practice counting numbers in Shona with ease.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned the basic numbers from 1 to 10 in Shona and how to use them in sentences. This is an essential part of the language that will come in handy when talking about time, dates, or numbers in everyday conversations. Keep practicing and stay tuned for more Shona lessons!
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Days of the week & Education.
Other Lessons
- Health
- Days of the Week
- Numbers
- Count to 10
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Languages
- Colors
- Describing Relationships
- Emergency
Sources