Lesson 009 - Kuwedzera

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In Shona culture, when greeting people, men clap their hands as displayed in this image. This picture was taken in the beautiful Honde Valley, in Mutare, Zimbabwe

Today’s lesson is entitled “Kuwedzera” which means “To Add,” or “Adding.”

We’re going to be adding more words, expressions, and phrases, primarily to greetings which we covered in lessons one and two.  This lesson will also warm you up a bit for our first test, which covers lessons 1 to 9.  Don’t you just love exams?  Well its time for your first shona lessons podcast exam, which is now online at www.kudzai.net.

After listening to this lesson, head on over to www.kudzai.net, click on the “Shona Tests” link in order to take the first test for our podcast. Let’s begin.

We’re going to learn a sentance using the word “Kuwedzera.”

Saka Nhasi Tiri Kuwedzera manzwi manyowani.

Saka - This means “so,” Saka.  So.  Saka is a very popular word in shona, and its used just like the word “so” in English. We learned the word in Lesson 004.  Speaking casually, you can begin a sentence with “saka.”

Nhasi - Means Today.  And we learned this in lesson 003.  Nhasi. Today.

Tiri - This means “we are.”  And this word was covered in lessons 007 and 008.  Tiri.  We are.  Do you remember how to say “I am” from lesson 8?  ”Ndiri.” If you listen again to lesson 8, you should be able to say the following in Shona:  ”I am, We are, You are, You all are, He/She is, They are. We’ll go over these in just a moment.  Let’s continue.

Kuwedzera - To Add, or Adding.  Kuwedzera.  Wedzera can be used very easily to communicate a quick sentence.  Can you guess what “Wedzera Chikafu” means?  If you remember from lesson 5, chikafu means food.  So “Wedzera chikafu” means, “Add food” or “Add some food.”  Can you guess what “Ndiri kuwedzera Chikafu” means? This means “I am adding some food.”  So let’s see if you can help me interpret the following into English.

Ndiri kuwedzera mvura mu swimming pool - I’m adding water into the swimming pool.

Nhasi tiri kuwedzera chikafu mupoto - Today we are adding food into the pot.

Uri kuWedzera hembe mu suitcase - You are adding clothes into the suitcase.

Very good.

Now lets see if you can give the Shona interpretation of the following:

You are adding water into the swimming pool - Uri kuwedzera mvura mu swimming pool

That girl is adding food into the pot - Musikana uyo ari kuwedzera chikafu mupoto

Those boys are adding clothes into the suitcase - Vakomana avo vari kuwedzera hembe mu suitcase

How did you do?  I’m sure you’re doing great.  This is a good place for you to refer back to the previous lessons to review.  All the words used in the precedeing sentances were gathered from past lessons.  Remember repetiton is the mother of learning.

Ok we’re halfway through our sentance, and so far we have learned “Saka nhasi tiri kuwedzera…”  The next word is:

Manwzi - This means “words.”  Manzwi.  Words.  Nzwi, is the shona root for “Word,” “Voice”, or “Sound”  This is because in Shona, the concept of a “word” is similar to the concept of a “Voice” or a “sound.”  So Manzwi, means “Words”, “Voices” or “Sounds.”  As always, the context of the sentance will automatically cause you to know which of the three is being referred to.

Manyowani - This means “New Ones.”  Manyowani.  Do you hear the similarity between the shona “Manyowani” and the English “New ones?”  This is because “Manyowani” is really a shonglish word.  Its one of those shonglish words that have become a regular part of the vocabulary.  The traditional Shona way of saying “new ones” is “matsva”.  ”tsva” is the shona root for “New.”  So Matsva is plural and means “New ones.” If you’re talking about one thing, the singular form is “Itsva.” For our lessons however, we’re going to use “Manyowani.” Which is more common in casual shona speaking.

So one more time, the whole sentance we’ve just learned is: “Saka Nhasi Tiri Kuwedzera manzwi manyowani”  which means “So today we are adding new words.”

Saka now, we’re actually going to go learn manzwi manyowani, new words, and these will be additional greetings, which I know you’re going to love.

Please welcome our special guest who is going to help us with these new greetings.  His name is Farai.  Which means, rejoice.  Or Be Happy!

Mhoro Farai

Mhoro Kudzai, uribho?

Ini ndiri bho, ko iwewe

Ndiri right

——————–

In Lesson 1 we learned greetings.  Today, tiri kuwedzera (we are adding) 3 new greetings:

The first one is:

Uribho? - Uribho is one of the most popular greetings you’ll hear on the streets of Harare.  The word “bho” has no direct english translation, but when said as a question, uribho, its understood as “Are you doing good?” or “What’s up, are you cool?”  Uribho is used much like Zvirisei from lesson 1.

Bho? - Is a slang term that came from “po” which refers to something being “there” as in “Ndiripo” meaning “I’m here.” Or “Iripo” - “Its there.” Somewhere in modern shona history, the young people changed “po” into “bho” and that’s how the slang “bho” came about.

Bho now refers to someone or something being “really good”

-If you’re responding when someone asks “Uribho?”, you say “Ndiribho” - “I’m really good”

-Or if you’re responding on behalf of someone else, you say “Aribho” - “He’ or she is really good”

-Or if you’re talking about a thing, you say “Iribho.”  - “It’s really good.” When you say that, it means you really like the thing you’re talking about.

Here’s some examples of how we use it:

Mhoro Kudzai, Uribho? - Hello Kudzai, are you bho?

My Response Would be - Ndiribho, ko iwewe?  - I’m bho, how bout you?

Ndiribho - I’m bho

Here are a couple more easy examples of the slang use of “bho.” Now this is street talk, so you can feel cool when you talk like this.

Podcast yedu iribho - Our podcast is bho.

Musikana uyo aribho - That girl is bho (Now remember, bho means you really like something, so if you say Musikana uyo aribho, people might think you reeeallly reallly like the girl. So be careful…)

Church yangu iribho - My church is bho

Song iyo iribho - That song is bho

So anyway you get the idea.  Saka if you say something is bho, it means you really like it.  Or if you say “Ndiribho” it means you’re doing really well.

Lets move on to the next greeting which is:

—–

Hesi - This is another very common greeting which is like “Hi” in English.

Hesi - means Hi As in

Hesi Kudzai - Hi Kudzai.

And guess what, “hesi” is also a shonglish word.  ”Hesi” comes from the english word “Yes.”

My grandmother who lives in mutoko, for some odd reason, when she sees a young person and wants to say hello, she says “Yes.”  I never understood why, but I’m sure that’s how “Yes” found its way into shona as a greeting.  And as with many english words, once a shona accent is attached to it, the word easily becomes an acceptable shona expression.

So now you can greet people by saying:

Hesi David

Hesi Tom

Hesi Rumbi

And you can combine with Uribho (which we just learned), or even Uri Right? (which means Are you doing alright?)

Hesi Farai Uribho?

Ndiribho, ko iwewe?

Ndiribho

Hesi Kudzai, Uri right?

Ndiri right, ko iwewe uri right here?

Ndiri right

You can use these greetings and enjoy meeting new people.

——

Let’s do one more, and this is another very famous greeting which is used all the time.  Remember when we learned “Maswera sei?” , and “Marara sei” which are used at different times during the day?  Well this greeting is “Makadini” which is used when you haven’t seen a person on a regular basis for a relatively long time, or when you’re meeting someone for the very first time.

Makadini? or Wakadini (if talking to a child or close friend) - means “How are you doing?” or “How have you been?” - Again, It is used when you haven’t seen a person on a regular basis for relatively long time, such as a month or more.

The word expresses that you want to discover details about how the person has been doing since you last saw them, or how their life is going if its someone you’ve never met before. So if you saw someone yesterday, or last week, you don’t need very many details about how they’re doing, and would instead say “Hesi” or “Zvirisei” or “Mhoro.”  But now if its been long since you last saw them, you’d then say:

Makadini.  Or again, if you’re speaking to a young child or a close friend, you’d change with Ma, to Wa, and the word becomes Wakadini.  Makadini is a very respectful way of greeting, and demonstrates good manners.  So you’ll definitely want to make sure you use Makadini when meeting an older person such as you grandmother, or your pastor, or even an uncle you haven’t seen in some time.

The response to Makadini, or Wakadini, is “Ndiripo” - I am well. And you can even substitute, “Ndiripo” with “Ndiribho” if you’re talking to a friend.

For example:

Makadini Sekuru - How have you been Grandpa?

Ndiripo muzukuru. Ko iwe Wakadini? - I’m well grandaughter.  And you, How have you been?

Ndiripo - I am well

Wakadini Farai - How have you been Farai.

Ndiripo Kudzai. Ko iwewe? - I’m well Kudzai.  How about you?

Ini ndiripo - I am doing well.

Mhoroi teacher, Makadini - Hello teacher.  How have you been?

Ndiripo mwanangu,  Wakadini? - I’m well my child, how are you?

Ndiripo - I am well.

—————————-

Great work!  Give your  self a hand.

Nhasi, we learned many things including

Kuwedzera - Which means to add.

Uribho? - Which is a casual greeting like “Whats up” or “Are You doing good?”

Hesi - Which is another casual greeting which used like “Hi” in english

and

Makadini - Which is a popular greeting used when meeting somone after a long time, or for the first time.

Shona Lessons Podcast Iribho.

Don’t forget to visit www.kudzai.net and take the first Shona Lessons Podcast exam which now online.

And as always, check out twitter.com/kudzaidotnet for more words and updates from kudzai.net.

Well its been a pleasure talking to you today.  Next time, we’ll go over the exam you’re taking, and see how well you did. So until next time, have a great day, keep smiling, and enjoying God’s wonderful blessings that He gives us everyday.

Toonana!