Art & Museums

1. Imba yemiduri / girari iri kupi?

   I-mba ye-mi-du-ri / gi-ra-ri i-ri ku-pi?

   Where is the art museum / gallery?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of an art museum or gallery

   Grammar Note

   "Iri kupi?" = where is it? in Shona. "Ye-" is the connective linking the class 9 noun imba to mi- (miduri): ya + mi

2. Nguva yokuvhura ndeipi?

   Ngu-va yo-ku-vhu-ra nde-i-pi?

   What are the opening hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about opening hours

   Grammar Note

   "Ndeipi?" = which one is it? (singular, agreeing with class 9 "nguva"). "Yokuvhura" = of opening (yo + infinitive "kuvhura")

3. Mari yokupinda inoita sei?

   Ma-ri yo-ku-pi-nda i-no-i-ta se-i?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the admission price

   Grammar Note

   "Inoita sei?" = how much is it / how does it cost? "Sei" = how (in amount/manner)

4. Kutora mifananidzo mukati kunotenderwa here?

   Ku-to-ra mi-fa-na-ni-dzo mu-ka-ti ku-no-te-nde-rwa he-re?

   Is photography allowed inside?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether photography is permitted inside

   Grammar Note

   "Here" is the Shona question particle. "Kunotenderwa" = is permitted (passive, marked by "-wa")

5. Mune audio guide here?

   Mu-ne audio guide he-re?

   Do you have an audio guide?

   Usage

   Used to ask for an audio guide

   Grammar Note

   "Mune" = you (pl.) have. Shona freely borrows English terms in tourism contexts

6. Nzvimbo yemiduri yepasi ino / yechinyakare iri kupi?

   Nzvi-mbo ye-mi-du-ri ye-pa-si i-no / ye-chi-nya-ka-re i-ri ku-pi?

   Where is the collection of local / traditional art?

   Usage

   Used to locate the local or traditional art collection

   Grammar Note

   "Chinyakare" = traditional/old. "Chi-" is the class 7 noun class prefix in Shona

7. Basa iri rakanaka kwazvo — ndiani akariita?

   Ba-sa i-ri ra-ka-na-ka kwa-zvo — ndi-a-ni a-ka-ri-i-ta?

   This artwork is stunning — who is the artist?

   Usage

   Used to express admiration and ask who created the artwork

   Grammar Note

   "Ndiani" = who. "Akariita" = who made it (relative verb: "a-" subject + "-ri-" object pronoun + "-ita" make)

8. Ndinogona kutenga kopi yebasa iri here?

   Ndi-no-go-na ku-te-nga ko-pi ye-ba-sa i-ri he-re?

   Can I buy a print / reproduction of this work?

   Usage

   Used to ask about buying a print or reproduction

   Grammar Note

   "Ndinogona" = I can (1st sg. of "gona"). Prefix "ndino-" = I habitually/presently do

9. Kune tour inofambiswa nemutungamiri here?

   Ku-ne tour i-no-fa-mbi-swa ne-mu-tu-nga-mi-ri he-re?

   Is there a guided tour available?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether guided tours are offered

   Grammar Note

   "Kune" = there is (short form). "Ne-" = with (prepositional prefix indicating company)

10. Ndinoda kupinda mu art workshop.

    Ndi-no-da ku-pi-nda mu art workshop.

    I'd like to attend an art workshop.

    Usage

    Used to express interest in joining an art workshop

    Grammar Note

    "Ndinoda" = I want (1st sg. of "oda"). "Kupinda" = to enter/join

Browse all TravelPhrases languages