Martial Arts

1. Ndingaone kudzidzira here?

   Ndi-nga-o-ne ku-dzi-dzi-ra he-re?

   May I watch the training?

   Usage

   Almost no codified traditional Zimbabwean fighting art is documented. Harare and Bulawayo do have boxing, karate and judo clubs, and Zimbabwe has sent Olympic boxers in the past

   Grammar Note

   The infix "-nga-" marks possibility or permission and pulls the final vowel to "-e". "Here" is a clause-final question particle; word order stays as in a statement

2. Ndingauya zuva rimwe chete here?

   Ndi-nga-u-ya zu-va ri-mwe che-te he-re?

   Can I come for just one day?

   Usage

   Zimbabwean clubs mostly charge monthly, but many will take a single-session payment from a visitor. Gyms in Harare's Borrowdale and Avondale areas are used to foreigners

   Grammar Note

   "Chete" means only and follows a numeral to reinforce the restriction. "Zuva" is a class 5 noun, so the numeral appears as "rimwe"

3. Zuva rimwe imarii?

   Zu-va ri-mwe i-ma-ri-i?

   How much is one day?

   Usage

   Zimbabwe's currency situation is volatile, so US dollars in cash are widely used for everyday transactions. Small dollar notes make things easy at a gym, and many also take mobile payment via EcoCash

   Grammar Note

   "Imarii" fuses "i-" (it is), "mari" (money) and "-i" (what) into the everyday way of asking a price

4. Ndiri kutanga, handisati ndamborwa.

   Ndi-ri ku-ta-nga, ha-ndi-sa-ti nda-mbo-rwa.

   I am just starting, I have never fought before

   Usage

   Tell the desk or coach up front and they will begin with stance and basic movement. Zimbabwean clubs rarely post skill levels and rely on you saying where you stand

   Grammar Note

   "Handisati" combines the negative "ha-" with "-sati" (not yet), and the following verb carries "-mbo-" (ever) to give "have never once"

5. Mune magirovhosi ekukwereta here?

   Mu-ne ma-gi-ro-vho-si e-ku-kwe-re-ta he-re?

   Do you have gloves to borrow?

   Usage

   "Magirovhosi" is the Shona adaptation of English "gloves". Neighbourhood clubs are often short of equipment and share what they have, so bring your own if you can

   Grammar Note

   English loan nouns take the plural prefix "ma-" and join class 6. Shona spelling writes the English v as "vh" to distinguish it from the ordinary bilabial "v"

6. Ndapota itai zvinyoronyoro.

   Nda-po-ta i-ta-i zvi-nyo-ro-nyo-ro.

   Please go gently

   Usage

   Say this before sparring. "Zvinyoronyoro" means softly or gently, its reduplication softening the degree. "Ndapota" is the all-purpose word for please

   Grammar Note

   Adding "-i" to an imperative makes it plural or polite (ita becomes itai). It is often used for a single person as a mark of respect

7. Ibvi rangu rinorwadza, handikwanisi kukava.

   I-bvi ra-ngu ri-no-rwa-dza, ha-ndi-kwa-ni-si ku-ka-va.

   My knee hurts, I cannot kick

   Usage

   Always declare this before training. Swap "ibvi" (knee) for "fudzi" (shoulder), "musana" (lower back) or "gumbo" (leg). Clubs take no intake form, so speaking up is the only way

   Grammar Note

   Possessives agree with class: class 5 "ibvi" takes "rangu" (my). The cluster "bv" is a distinctive Shona affricate, articulated as b and v together

8. Makirasi anotanga nguvai?

   Ma-ki-ra-si a-no-ta-nga ngu-va-i?

   What time do the classes start?

   Usage

   Zimbabwean clubs concentrate their sessions after five in the evening. Harare sits at about 1,500 metres with cool mornings and evenings, and dusk comes early in the May-to-August winter. Power cuts are frequent, so evening classes are sometimes cancelled

   Grammar Note

   "Nguvai" is "nguva" (time) plus "-i" (what). Question words go at the end and the word order stays as in a statement

9. Munodzidzisa judo kana karate pano here?

   Mu-no-dzi-dzi-sa ju-do ka-na ka-ra-te pa-no he-re?

   Do you teach judo or karate here?

   Usage

   Karate is the most widespread martial art in Zimbabwe and is taught as a school activity. Judo and taekwondo also have national federations. There is no surviving codified traditional art, so these are treated purely as modern sports

   Grammar Note

   "Kudzidzisa" (to teach) is "kudzidza" (to learn) with the causative "-is-". "Mu-" is the second-person plural subject prefix, also used to address a business politely

10. Pane pekugezera here?

    Pa-ne pe-ku-ge-ze-ra he-re?

    Is there somewhere to wash?

    Usage

    Newer Harare gyms have showers, but neighbourhood clubs often do not, and water supply can be interrupted. Always bring a towel and a change of clothes

    Grammar Note

    "Pa-" is the class 16 locative prefix. "Kugeza" (to wash) takes the applicative "-er-", meaning to wash at a place, and the locative prefix turns the whole thing into a noun for that place

11. Simudza maoko ako, tarisa mumaziso emumwe wako!

    Si-mu-dza ma-o-ko a-ko, ta-ri-sa mu-ma-zi-so e-mu-mwe wa-ko!

    Raise your hands, look into your opponent's eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Coaching in Zimbabwean clubs mixes Shona and English freely. It comes as a curt imperative with no rudeness intended

    Grammar Note

    A positive command uses the bare stem. The locative prefix "mu-" means "in", so "mumaziso" is "into the eyes"

12. Kava nesimba rako rose, usatya!

    Ka-va ne-si-mba ra-ko ro-se, u-sa-tya!

    Kick with all your strength, do not be afraid!

    Usage

    Said by the coach during pad work. In actual sparring the instruction would be the opposite, so treat this as aimed at pads and bags

    Grammar Note

    Negative commands take "u-" (you) plus "-sa-" (not) plus the stem. The prefix "ne-" means "with" and fuses with the noun to give "nesimba" (with strength)

13. Zorora maminitsi mashanu, unwe mvura.

    Zo-ro-ra ma-mi-ni-tsi ma-sha-nu, u-nwe mvu-ra.

    Rest five minutes and drink water

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Harare sits high and the dry season air draws water out of you faster than expected. Mains supply is unreliable, so bringing bottled water is the safe option

    Grammar Note

    Numerals agree with class: class 6 "maminitsi" (minutes) takes "mashanu" (five). The second verb shifts to the subjunctive "unwe" to chain the commands

14. Zvakwana nhasi. Waita zvakanaka!

    Zva-kwa-na nha-si. Wa-i-ta zva-ka-na-ka!

    That is enough for today. You did well!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. It is courteous to shake hands with everyone afterwards, and supporting your forearm with the other hand shows respect. Reply with "maita basa" (thank you)

    Grammar Note

    "Zva-" is the class 8 prefix, widely used for abstract things. "Zvakanaka" means good things, so "waita zvakanaka" is "you did well"

15. Mwedzi mumwe imarii?

    Mwe-dzi mu-mwe i-ma-ri-i?

    How much is one month?

    Usage

    For a stay of more than a week the monthly rate works out cheaper. Prices are usually quoted in US dollars and change is hard to come by, so bringing the exact amount speeds things up. Ask whether there is a joining fee too

    Grammar Note

    Numerals agree with noun class: class 3 "mwedzi" takes "mumwe", whereas class 5 "zuva" (day) takes "rimwe"

16. Mune makirasi evakadzi chete here?

    Mu-ne ma-ki-ra-si e-va-ka-dzi che-te he-re?

    Do you have classes for women only?

    Usage

    Harare and Bulawayo have a growing number of women's self-defence and boxing-fitness classes. Clubs outside the cities are often all-male, so checking first avoids an awkward arrival

    Grammar Note

    The connective "of" agrees with the class of the first noun: class 6 "makirasi" takes "e-", which fuses with the following noun to give "evakadzi"

17. Ndapota ndiratidzeizve.

    Nda-po-ta ndi-ra-ti-dze-i-zve.

    Please show me again

    Usage

    The standard request while learning a technique. Coaching mixes Shona and English, so repeating it in English does no harm. Gesturing works if you do not know the name of the move

    Grammar Note

    The object sits before the stem as a prefix, with "ndi-" meaning "me". The enclitic "-zve" adds "again" and follows the polite imperative ending "-i"

18. Ndichakwanisa kurwisana rinhi?

    Ndi-cha-kwa-ni-sa ku-rwi-sa-na ri-nhi?

    When will I be able to spar?

    Usage

    Sparring waits on the coach's approval, usually until your stance and defence hold up. Neighbourhood clubs include men who compete, so always ask for light contact. A mouthguard is your own

    Grammar Note

    The infix "-cha-" marks the future, so "ndi-cha-kwanisa" is "I will be able to". The reciprocal "-an-" gives a mutual sense: "kurwa" (to fight) becomes "kurwisana" (to fight one another)

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