Health & Hospital

1. Ndirwara

   Ndi-rwa-ra

   I am sick / I am not well

   Usage

   The most direct way to say you are sick or unwell

   Grammar Note

   "Ndirwara" = "ndi-" (1st person singular) + "rwara" (to be sick). "Ndine chirwere" (I have an illness) is another way to express sickness

2. Ndinoda kuenda kuchipatara

   Ndi-no-da ku-e-nda ku-chi-pa-ta-ra

   I want to go to the hospital

   Usage

   Used when you need to visit a hospital or medical facility

   Grammar Note

   "Chipatara" is the Shona word for hospital. Harare Central Hospital is a major facility

3. Musoro wangu unorwadza

   Mu-so-ro wa-ngu u-no-rwa-dza

   My head hurts

   Usage

   Used to express that you have a headache

   Grammar Note

   "Rwadza" means to hurt/be painful. Body parts: "mudumbu" (stomach), "ruoko" (hand/arm), "gumbo" (foot/leg), "mwoyo" (chest/heart)

4. Ndinofungidzira ndine fivha

   Ndi-no-fu-ngi-dzi-ra ndi-ne fi-vha

   I think I have a fever

   Usage

   Used to report a fever or high temperature

   Grammar Note

   “Fivha” is the established Shona spelling of the English loan “fever”; it never takes the English plural -s. “Ndinofungidzira” adds “I think / I suppose”. You can also say “kupisa kwemuviri” (my body is burning).

5. Ndinoda mushonga

   Ndi-no-da mu-sho-nga

   I need medicine

   Usage

   Used when you need medicine or medication

   Grammar Note

   "Mushonga" means medicine or remedy. Shona distinguishes traditional medicine "mushonga wemusha" (home/traditional remedy) from modern medicine "mushonga webhawa" (clinic medicine)

6. Ndine alaji ye X

   Ndi-ne a-la-ji ye X

   I have an allergy to X

   Usage

   Used to inform medical or catering staff about a specific allergy

   Grammar Note

   "alaji" is the borrowing of English "allergy", in the same frame as "Ndine alaji yenzungu". Put the allergen (X) after "ye"

7. Mudumbu wangu unorwadza

   Mu-du-mbu wa-ngu u-no-rwa-dza

   My stomach hurts

   Usage

   Used to express stomach pain or abdominal discomfort

   Grammar Note

   "Mudumbu" means stomach or belly. For diarrhea say "Ndine manyoka". Always drink safe water in Zimbabwe

8. Daidzai ambulanzi

   Dai-dzai a-mbu-la-nzi

   Call an ambulance

   Usage

   Used in an emergency to request someone call an ambulance

   Grammar Note

   "Daidzai" is the polite imperative of "kudaidza" (to call). "Ndinoda rubatsiro!" (I need help!) also works in emergencies. Zimbabwe emergency number: 999

9. Ndine chirwere chemalaria

   Ndi-ne chi-rwe-re che-ma-la-ri-a

   I have malaria

   Usage

   Used to report malaria symptoms to medical staff

   Grammar Note

   Malaria is prevalent in Zimbabwe's tropical lowlands. "Chirwere" is the Shona word for disease/illness. Take prophylactics and insect repellent when visiting low-lying areas

10. Ndatenda, ndiri kunzwa zvakanaka

    Nda-te-nda, ndi-ri ku-nzwa zva-ka-na-ka

    Thank you, I am feeling better

    Usage

    Used after receiving care to express that you are feeling better

    Grammar Note

    "Ndiri kunzwa" is present continuous (I am feeling). "Zvakanaka" = in a good state. "Nzwa" (to feel/hear) is a versatile verb covering sensory experience

11. Ndine pamuviri

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist you are pregnant

12. Mafemo

    Asthma

    Usage

    Tell staff you have asthma

13. Chirwere cheshuga

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Tell staff you are diabetic

14. Chirwere chemwoyo

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Tell staff you have a heart condition

15. Kukwirira kweropa

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Tell staff you have high blood pressure

16. Bhonzo rakatyoka

    I have a broken bone

    Usage

    Say you think a bone is broken

17. Handikwanisi kufema

    I can't breathe

    Usage

    Say you are struggling to breathe

18. Dzungu

    Dizziness

    Usage

    Report dizziness

19. Ndiri kubuda ropa

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Say that you are bleeding

20. Ronda

    Wound

    Usage

    Show a wound or sore

21. Chikosoro

    Cough

    Usage

    Report that you have a cough

22. Manyoka

    Diarrhoea

    Usage

    Report diarrhoea

23. Ndiri kumwedzi

    I am on my period

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist you are menstruating; this is the everyday euphemism

24. Kudedera nechando

    Chills

    Usage

    Say that you are shivering with cold; literally “trembling from the cold”. This word refers to shivering from cold air temperature.

25. Dzihwa

    Common cold

    Usage

    Report a head cold; the same word also names the nasal discharge itself

26. Danidzira chiremba!

    Da-ni-dzi-ra chi-re-mba!

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask a bystander to call a doctor for a sudden illness or injury

    Grammar Note

    Fills the "Danidzira + person to summon" frame of «Danidzira mapurisa!» ("call the police") with "chiremba" (doctor) from «Ndinoda chiremba nekukurumidza».

27. Muviri wangu wakaneta.

    Mu-vi-ri wa-ngu wa-ka-ne-ta.

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Tell medical staff about the whole-body heaviness that comes with a fever or infection

    Grammar Note

    “Muviri” (body) is a class 3 (mu-/mi-) noun; both the possessive "wangu" and the subject prefix "wa-" agree with class 3. The verb is "kuneta", the same as in ("Ndakaneta", "I am tired"); because the subject shifts from first person to "muviri", the prefix changes from "nda-" to "wa-".

28. Ndinofanira kuzorora here?

    Ndi-no-fa-ni-ra ku-zo-ro-ra he-re?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Check with the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest

    Grammar Note

    The sentence-final question particle "here" is used exactly as in «Munotaura Chirungu here?» ("do you speak English?"). "Ndinofanira + infinitive" expresses "I must / I have to".

29. Kupatira

    Constipation

    Usage

    Report constipation

    Grammar Note

    “Kupatira” means “constipated”: unable to pass stool because of illness.

30. Dhodhi

    Poop

    Usage

    A word to show when describing stool; neutral enough to use at a clinic

    Grammar Note

    Dhodhi means digested waste, a plain term usable when talking about the body. Chimbuzi means toilet; the example “mutundo kana dhodhi” means “urine or stool”.

31. Mutundo

    Pee (urine)

    Usage

    The standard word for urine, shown when describing urine.

    Grammar Note

    “Mutundo” means urine. “Weti” is another word for the same liquid.

32. Ndine manyoka

    Ndi-ne ma-nyo-ka

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhoea

    Grammar Note

    "Ndine + noun" is the same "I have …" frame as "Ndine alaji ye X" and "Ndine chirwere chemalaria". “Manyoka” means “diarrhoea”.

33. Ndiri kutadza kubudisa dhodhi

    Ndi-ri ku-ta-dza ku-bu-di-sa dho-dhi

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist you are constipated (literally "I am unable to pass stool")

    Grammar Note

    Constipation can be described as being unable to pass dhodhi (example: “tadza kubuditsa dhodhi”). The verb in this sentence uses the standard spelling “kubudisa”.

34. Ndinoda kutunda

    Ndi-no-da ku-tu-nda

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee

    Grammar Note

    "Kutunda" means passing weti (urine). "Ndinoda + infinitive" is the same "I want to …" frame as "Ndinoda kuchinja mari".

35. Ndinoda kuita dhodhi

    Ndi-no-da ku-i-ta dho-dhi

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to poop

    Grammar Note

    "Kuita dhodhi" means "to defecate" ("khunia = kuita dhodhi kana kunya"). The blunter "kunya" is avoided in favour of "kuita dhodhi".

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