Emergency

32 phrases · Shona with romanization, English and audio

  1. Ndibatsire! Ndinoda rubatsiro!

    Ndi-bat-si-re! Ndi-no-da ru-bat-si-ro!

    Help me! I need help!

    Usage

    Used loudly in an emergency. Zimbabwe's all-emergency number is 999; from a mobile, Econet subscribers dial 112 and NetOne subscribers 114.

    Grammar Note

    "ndibatsire" is the hortative/request form of "batsira" (to help). Zimbabwe emergency contacts: all emergencies 999, police 995, fire 993; from a mobile, Econet 112 and NetOne 114. All emergencies, 999 / Police, 995 / Fire Department, 993 / Emergency, 112, Econet subscribers Toll free number / Emergency, 114, NetOne subscribers Toll free number. Dial 112 from a mobile phone and ask for an ambulance. There is little public nationwide ambulance cover; outside Harare you may have to call a private service (e.g. EMRAS) directly.

  2. Danidzira mapurisa!

    Da-ni-dzi-ra ma-pu-ri-sa!

    Call the police!

    Usage

    Used to demand someone call the police in a dangerous situation

    Grammar Note

    "danidzira" is the imperative of "danidza" (to call/shout). "mapurisa" means "police" in Shona.

  3. Ndinoda chiremba nekukurumidza

    Ndi-no-da chi-re-mba ne-ku-ku-ru-mi-dza

    I need a doctor urgently

    Usage

    Used in a medical emergency to call for a doctor

    Grammar Note

    "chiremba" means "doctor/traditional healer" in Shona. "nekukurumidza" means "urgently/quickly".

  4. Ndapotsereka. Handizivi ndinoripo.

    Nda-pot-se-re-ka. Ha-ndi-zi-vi ndi-no-ri-po.

    I am lost. I don't know where I am.

    Usage

    Used when lost to ask for help from nearby people

    Grammar Note

    "ndapotsereka" is the perfect of "kupotsereka" (to get lost). "handizivi" is negative of "kuziva" (to know).

  5. Danidzira ambulanzi! Kune njodzi!

    Da-ni-dzi-ra a-mbu-la-nzi! Ku-ne njo-dzi!

    Call an ambulance! There is danger!

    Usage

    Used to call for an ambulance in a serious accident or emergency

    Grammar Note

    "kune njodzi" means "there is danger". "kune" is Shona's existential expression meaning "there is".

  6. Ndabiwa mari yangu

    Nda-bi-wa ma-ri ya-ngu

    My money was stolen

    Usage

    Used to report theft of money or belongings to police or bystanders

    Grammar Note

    "ndabiwa" is the passive perfect of "iba" (to steal), first person. Zimbabwe's police number is 995 (999 for all emergencies).

  7. Moto! Budai!

    Mo-to! Bu-dai!

    Fire! Get out!

    Usage

    Used to warn people about a fire and tell them to evacuate

    Grammar Note

    "budai" is the plural imperative of "buda" (to exit/leave). "-ai" marks plural commands in Shona

  8. Ndinoda kupinda muchipatara

    Ndi-no-da ku-pi-nda mu-chi-pa-ta-ra

    I need to be admitted to hospital

    Usage

    Used at a hospital when emergency admission is needed

    Grammar Note

    "chipatara" means "hospital" in Shona. "mu-" in "muchipatara" is the locative prefix meaning "inside"

  9. Ndinorwara mudumbu zvikuru

    Ndi-no-rwa-ra mu-du-mbu zvi-ku-ru

    I have a very bad stomach ache

    Usage

    Used to describe severe stomach pain to a doctor or pharmacist

    Grammar Note

    "rwara" means "to be sick/hurt". "mudumbu" is the locative of "dumbu" (stomach/belly) meaning "in the stomach"

  10. Ndinoda chipatara neambulanzi

    Ndi-no-da chi-pa-ta-ra ne-a-mbu-la-nzi

    I need a hospital and emergency transport

    Usage

    Used in a serious emergency requiring both hospital care and emergency transport

    Grammar Note

    "ambulanzi" is the borrowing of English "ambulance" (emergency transport), as in «Danidzira ambulanzi! Kune njodzi!». "ne-" is the connective "and"

  11. Rega!

    Stop it

    Usage

    Cut off persistent touts or harassment

  12. Usandibate!

    Don't touch me

    Usage

    Firmly tell someone not to touch you

  13. Mbavha

    Thief

    Usage

    Point out the person who stole from you

  14. Kuuraya munhu

    Murder

    Usage

    Report that someone has been killed; literally "killing a person"

  15. Mhirizhonga

    Riot

    Usage

    Report mob violence; the word also covers unrest and disorder in general

  16. Bhomba

    Bomb

    Usage

    Warn that there is an explosive device

  17. Mbavha! Mubatei!

    Mba-vha! Mu-ba-tei!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Point at the person who stole from you and ask bystanders to hold them

    Grammar Note

    “Mbavha” means “thief”. "Mubatei" is the plural imperative of "kubata" (to grasp/seize); the final "-i" marks a plural addressee.

  18. Kambha yemapurisa iri kupi?

    Ka-mbha ye-ma-pu-ri-sa i-ri ku-pi?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask where the police station is so you can file a report

    Grammar Note

    Follows the "X iri kupi?" ("where is X?") pattern of «Imba yemiduri / girari iri kupi?» with "kambha yemapurisa" (police station) filled in. "Kambha" is a class 9 noun, so it takes the class 9 connector "ye-" and the class 9 subject prefix "i-" in "iri".

  19. Pane munhu anotaura chiJapani here?

    Pa-ne mu-nhu a-no-tau-ra chi-Ja-pa-ni he-re?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Ask at a police station or hospital whether anyone speaks Japanese

    Grammar Note

    Combines the "Pane munhu + relative clause" frame of «Pane munhu akuvara» ("someone is injured") with the "-notaura + language + here?" frame of «Munotaura Chirungu here?». "Munhu" is class 1, so the relative verb takes the class 1 subject prefix "a-", giving "anotaura". The "chi-" prefix on the language name is the same formation as in "Chirungu" (English).

  20. Pane munhu ari kunyura mumvura!

    Pa-ne mu-nhu a-ri ku-nyu-ra mu-mvu-ra!

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Call for help when you see someone drowning

    Grammar Note

    Combines "Pane munhu" from «Pane munhu akuvara» with the "-ri ku- + infinitive" progressive of «Ndiri kubuda ropa» ("I am bleeding"). "Munhu" is class 1, so the progressive takes the class 1 subject prefix "a-", giving "ari" (the first person is "ndiri").

  21. Ndakarohwa.

    Nda-ka-ro-hwa.

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report to police or medical staff that you were assaulted

    Grammar Note

    Uses the same "Nda-ka- + verb" perfect frame as «Ndakaneta» ("I am tired"). "-rohwa" is the passive of "kurova" (to strike), paired with the third person "akarohwa".

  22. Ndakabayiwa.

    Nda-ka-ba-yi-wa.

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Report to police or medical staff that you were stabbed

    Grammar Note

    Uses the same "Nda-ka- + verb" perfect frame as «Ndakaneta». "-bayiwa" is the passive of "kubaya" (to pierce/stab), paired with the third person "akabayiwa" — the same pairing as "Ndakarohwa" / "akarohwa".

  23. Mbavha yakapinda mumba mangu.

    Mba-vha ya-ka-pi-nda mu-mba ma-ngu.

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Report that someone entered your room or lodging while you were out

    Grammar Note

    "Mbavha" is a class 9 noun, so the verb takes the class 9 subject prefix "ya-". "Mumba mangu" is "mu" + "imba" (house) with vowel elision, followed by the possessive "mangu", which agrees with the locative prefix "mu-" (class 18).

  24. Munhu uyo ndiye akazviita.

    Mu-nhu u-yo ndi-ye a-ka-zvi-i-ta.

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police; literally "that person is the one who did it"

    Grammar Note

    "Munhu" is the same class 1 noun as in «Pane munhu akuvara»; both the demonstrative "uyo" and the relative subject prefix "a-" agree with class 1. "Akazviita" is "a-" (class 1) + "ka-" (perfect) + "zvi-" (class 8 object, "it") + "ita" (to do).

  25. Akandinyengera.

    A-ka-ndi-nye-nge-ra.

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Report a scam or a rip-off; literally "he/she deceived me"

    Grammar Note

    Uses the same first person object infix "-ndi-" inside the verb as «Usandibate!» ("don't touch me"): "a-" (class 1 subject) + "ka-" (perfect) + "ndi-" (me) + "nyengera" (to deceive).

  26. Ndabiwa chikwama changu.

    Nda-bi-wa chi-kwa-ma cha-ngu.

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Report to the police that your wallet was stolen

    Grammar Note

    Fills the "Ndabiwa + what was stolen" frame of «Ndabiwa mari yangu» ("my money was stolen") with "chikwama" (wallet). "Chikwama" is a class 7 noun, so the possessive is the class 7 form "changu", not "yangu".

  27. Ndakanganwa zvinhu zvangu.

    Nda-ka-nga-nwa zvi-nhu zva-ngu.

    I left it behind

    Usage

    Tell staff that you left your belongings behind

    Grammar Note

    Uses the "Nda-ka- + verb" perfect frame of «Ndakaneta» with "zvinhu" (things) from «Kune nzvimbo yekuchengetedza zvinhu here?». "Zvinhu" is a class 8 noun, so the possessive is the class 8 form "zvangu".

  28. Ndakarohwa nemotokari.

    Nda-ka-ro-hwa ne-mo-to-ka-ri.

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tell police or medical staff that a car hit you

    Grammar Note

    Takes the same "Ndakarohwa" (passive perfect of "kurova", to strike) as «Ndakarohwa.» and adds the agent marker "ne-" (by). "Ne-" + "motokari" is written as one word, "nemotokari".

  29. Kurumidzai!

    Ku-ru-mi-dzai!

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Tell the person you called for help to hurry

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative of "kurumidza" (to hurry), the same verb as in «Ndinoda chiremba nekukurumidza» ("I need a doctor right away"). The final "-i" marks a plural addressee.

  30. Kurumidzai kuuya!

    Ku-ru-mi-dzai ku-u-ya!

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Tell someone on the phone or nearby to come immediately

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative of "kurumidza" (to hurry), from «Ndinoda chiremba nekukurumidza», followed by the infinitive "kuuya" (to come). Shona expresses "do X quickly" as "hurry + infinitive".

  31. Ndiendesei kuchipatara.

    Ndi-e-nde-sei ku-chi-pa-ta-ra.

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Ask to be taken to a hospital when you cannot get there yourself

    Grammar Note

    Uses the same "kuchipatara" (to the hospital) as «Ndinoda kuenda kuchipatara» ("I want to go to the hospital"), with the verb switched to the plural imperative of "kuendesa" (to take/send someone) carrying the first person object prefix "ndi-".

  32. Pane tsaona yemugwagwa.

    Pa-ne tsa-o-na ye-mu-gwa-gwa.

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Report that a road accident has happened, to the emergency line or to bystanders. In Zimbabwe the ambulance is 994 and the police 995

    Grammar Note

    “Pane + noun” is an existential pattern. Tsaona is class 9, so the associative is ye-. Mugwagwa in yemugwagwa means a road made for vehicles to travel on. “Akafa mutsaona yemugwagwa” means “died in a road accident”. Tsaona is an event harming a person, machine, buildings or surroundings, such as a person struck by a bus. Another example containing mugwagwa is “Nzvimbo yesitesheni yemugwagwa iri kupi?”.

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