Everything You Need To Learn Shona

Everything You Need To Learn Shona

Shona is the most widely spoken Bantu language in Zimbabwe, with more than 70% of the country speaking it. There, it is one of 14 official languages. Roughly 12 million people speak the language.

Shona is related to Sesotho and Tswana, as well as other Bantu languages such as Zulu. Like many Bantu languages, Shona is tonal. This means that the tone of your voice determines the meaning of a word.

There are a handful of learning materials for those hoping to learn Shona, and we’ve gathered most of them together here. Though this list is short, there should be enough to get you well on your way to Shona fluency.

Shona Language Learning Books

A self-study Shona course/study book can teach you plenty about the basics of Shona, including grammar concepts, sentence building and more. You should be able to gain a solid foundation in the language by working through these books.

You should also get yourself a concise English-Shona dictionary, as well as a Shona phrasebook. These resources will help you to understand the language, and will introduce you to the most Shona common words and phrases to use when you’re in Zimbabwe.

Learn Shona: An Introductory Course for English Speakers
Amazon.com
Learn Shona: An Introductory Course for English Speakers
The Shona Phrasebook and Dictionary
Amazon.com
The Shona Phrasebook and Dictionary
Shona-English/English-Shona Dictionary and Phrasebook
Amazon.com
Shona-English/English-Shona Dictionary and Phrasebook
Duramazwi: A Shona-English Dictionary
Amazon.com
Duramazwi: A Shona-English Dictionary
Berlitz Language: Central & South Africa Phrase Book & Dictionary: Tswana, Shona, Swahili, Afrikaans
Amazon.com
Berlitz Language: Central & South Africa Phrase Book & Dictionary: Tswana, Shona, Swahili, Afrikaans
Beginner's Shona (Chishona)
Amazon.com
Beginner's Shona (Chishona)

Shona Children’s Books

For those with a beginner’s knowledge of Shona, reading children’s books in Shona will be your best way to improve. They’re repetitive and easy to understand, meaning you’ll pick up on common words used in the language, and see how the language operates.

Learning My Native Language - Shona Version
Amazon.com
Learning My Native Language - Shona Version
My First Shona Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations
Amazon.com
My First Shona Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations
Am I small? Ndiri muduku here?: English-Shona Children's Picture Book
Amazon.com
Am I small? Ndiri muduku here?: English-Shona Children's Picture Book
My First Shona Words with Anashe and Takudzwa
Amazon.com
My First Shona Words with Anashe and Takudzwa