Difference between revisions of "Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Telling-Time"

Latest revision as of 15:54, 14 June 2023

◀️ Numbers 1-10 — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️

Shona → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Time → Telling Time

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	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.

Table of Contents - Shona Course - 0 to A1[edit source]

Course Presentation

Introduction to Shona

Greetings and Introductions

Nouns and Pronouns

Numbers and Time

Verbs and Tenses

Family and Relationships

Adjectives and Adverbs

Food and Dining

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Travel and Transportation

Shona Culture and Traditions

Asking Questions

Shopping and Money

Music and Dance

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

◀️ Numbers 1-10 — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+<span pgnav>
+{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
+|[[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-10|◀️ Numbers 1-10 — Previous Lesson]]
+|[[Language/Shona/Grammar/Present-Tense|Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️]]
+|}
+</span>
 {{Shona-Page-Top}}
@@ Line 14: / Line 21: @@
 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.
-=== Hours ===
+=== Shona hours ===
+{| class="wikitable"
+|+
+!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 ===
 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''.
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Shona !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
 |-
-| saa yedu || s-ah ya-doo || our time/our hour (12.00AM)
+| nguva  (12:00KSN) || ngoo-wa || time (12.00AM)
 |-
-| sei || say || one o'clock
+|nhambo/awa
+|nn-ha-mm-bo / ah-wah
+|hour
 |-
-| mbiri || m-bee-ree || two o'clock
+| kumamotsi || ku-ma-mo-tsee || one o'clock
 |-
-| tatu || ta-too || three o'clock
+| kumaviri/kumapiri || koo-ma-wee-ree/koo-ma-pee-ree || two o'clock
 |-
-| ina || ee-na || four o'clock
+| kumatatu || koo-ma-ta-too || three o'clock
 |-
-| shanu || sha-noo || five o'clock
+| kumaina || koo-ma-ee-na || four o'clock
 |-
-| nemunye || nay-moo-nye || six o'clock
+| kumashanu || koo-ma-sha-noo || five o'clock
 |-
-| neshanu || nay-sha-noo || seven o'clock
+| kumatanhatu || koo-ma-ta-nn-ha-too || six o'clock
 |-
-| nzvimbo || nzveem-bo || eight o'clock
+| kumanomwe || koo-ma-no-mm-we || seven o'clock
 |-
-| chitungwiza || chee-too-ng-wee-za || nine o'clock
+| kumasere || koo-ma-se-re || eight o'clock
 |-
-| gumi nharo || goo-mee nyar-oh || ten o'clock
+| kumapfumbamwe || koo-ma-pfoom-ba-mm-we || nine o'clock
 |-
-| gumi na sei || goo-mee na say|| eleven o'clock
+| kumagumi || koo-ma-goo-mee || ten o'clock
 |-
-| saa yemweya || s-ah ye-mway-ya || noon (12.00PM)
+| kumaguminerimwe || koo-ma-goo-mee ne-ree-mm-we|| eleven o'clock
 |-
-| saa yemvanhu || s-ah ye-mvan-oo|| our time/our hour (1.00PM onwards)
+| 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)
 |}
-=== Minutes ===
+=== Time portion ===
+==== Minutes ====
+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).
-Minutes are usually not pronounced in numbers; "past" and "to" are used instead.
+* "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).
-* "Past" is translated as "sina", which means "without". For instance, if it is 3:10 in Shona, it is pronounced as "Saa yedu sina mbiri".
+It's important to note here that the word "kusvika" can be omitted as in the second example.
-* "To" is translated as "se", which can be compared to the English word "until". For instance, if it is 3:50 in Shona, it is pronounced as "Saa yedu se dambudziko".
+==== Seconds ====
+In Shona a second is '''chepiri''' or '''sekondi''' using the English borrowed term.
-It's important to note here that the word "sina" is frequently omitted.
+* 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 ====
+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 ====
+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 ===
@@ Line 64: / Line 174: @@
 Here are a few examples of how to tell time in Shona:
-* 5:45 is "Saa yemunye se maviri nechidzokeri"
+* 5:45 is "chipandi kusvika nhambo rechitanhatu" (trans. quarter until the 6th hour)
-* 10:30 is "Gumi nharo se tatu"
+* 10:30 is "chidimbu chenhambo rechigumi"
-* 12:15 is "Saa yemweya sina mbiri nechiromo chine"
+* 12:15 is "chipandi kupfuura nhambo regumimbiri"
-* 1:50 is "Saa yemvanhu se shanu nezvimwe"
+* 1:50 is "mamhindi makumi kusvika nhambo ripiri" (trans. 10 minutes to arrive to the 2nd hour)
-* 9:20 is "Chitungwiza se mbiri"
+* 9:20 is "mamhindi gumi kupfuura nhambo repfumbamwe" (trans. 20 minutes passing/since the 9th hour)
+*2:02 is "mamhindi mairi kupfuura nhambo ripiri"
-* 2:02 is "Sei sina munyana ne hapana"
 == Conclusion ==
@@ Line 87: / Line 196: @@
 [[Category:Shona-0-to-A1-Course]]
 <span gpt></span> <span model=gpt-3.5-turbo></span> <span temperature=1></span>
+==Other Lessons==
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise|Express Surprise]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Describing-Relationships|Describing Relationships]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Fruits-and-Vegetables|Fruits and Vegetables]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Ordering-at-a-Restaurant|Ordering at a Restaurant]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Introducing-Yourself|Introducing Yourself]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Languages|Languages]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Talking-about-Money|Talking about Money]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Family-Members|Family Members]]
+* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Colors|Colors]]
+<span class='maj'></span>
+==Sources==
+* [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/Shona Shona - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com]
+* [https://wisc.pb.unizin.org/lctlresources/chapter/shona-learning-resources/ Shona Learning Resources – Resources for Self-Instructional ...]
+* [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/Chishona Chishona - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com]
 {{Shona-Page-Bottom}}
 <span links></span>
+<span pgnav>
+{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
+|[[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-10|◀️ Numbers 1-10 — Previous Lesson]]
+|[[Language/Shona/Grammar/Present-Tense|Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️]]
+|}
+</span>