Lesson 002 - Morning Greeting

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Today, we’re going to be learning a morning greeting, and we have a special guest.

This is a Gazebo that my Sekuru (grandfather) built in front of his house. Sekuru is 85 years old, and can still build huts, farm on his own, and do many things. He's practically a superhero!

Say hello to Tsitsi (“Grace”) who is going to be helping us in our morning greeting.

Mhoro Tsisi – Hello Tsitsi

Mhoro Kudzai, Zvirisei? - Hello Kudzai, What’s up?

Ha-a zviri nane – Ah, its all good.

Here we just greeted each other using some of the words from our previous lesson. Lets hear that again.

Remember… Zvirisei was a Shona equivalent to “What’s up” in English. I responded “Ha-a zviri nane”. Which means, “Ah its all good.”

Zviri means “its”, and Nane means “all good”. Zviri nane.

The word “Ha-a”, is not really a word. Its just an expression such as, “oh”, or “ah” in English. You’ll hear it used sporadically in Shona.

Now lets get into our morning greeting.

Tsitsi, can you tell us how we say Good morning in Shona?

Mangwanani – Good Morning

Mah — ngwa — nah — knee

Mangwanani is the common way to greet someone in the morning. When an adult greets you by saying Mangwanani, your response will be:

Mangwanani, marara sei? Good morning, how was your sleep?

The words Marara sei? Literally mean “how did you sleep”. Its a way to ask if the person had a pleasant sleep during the night. To respond to “Marara Sei” you simply say

Ndarara - I slept well.

Now, “MArara sei” is used when speaking to an adult. When speaking to a young person, or a close friend, you simply change the Ma in Marara sei into WA.

Warara sei? How was your sleep (speaking to a young person or close friend)

In Shona, a sentence that begins with “Ma”, is used in referring to an adult. Its also the plural form which is used when speaking to 2 or more people. Sentences that begin with WA, are used to refer to a young person, or a close friend. Lets practice. Tsitsi will help us.

Tsitsi, lets pretend I’m you sister, and you want to greet me in the morning

Tsitsi: Mangwanani Kudzi

Kudzai: Mangwanani Tsitsi, warara sei?

Tsitsi: Ndarara
——————-

Now lets say your mother greets you in the morning.

Mother: Mangwanani Tsitsi?

You: Mangwanani Amai, marara sei?

Mother: Ndarara

Note: “Amai”, is shona for mother.