LEARN SHONA🇿🇼 | Dzidza chiShona

LESSON 2| Shona Vowels

Hesi, wadzoka. | Hi, you're back. :)

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PART 2.1 | Basic Vowels

A E I O U

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PART 2.2 | Pronunciation

A = Ah
English = Amazing (-shamisa)
SHONA = Amai (mother)

E = eh or ye
English = Enemy (muvengi)
SHONA = Ehe (yes) or aenda "ayenda" (he/she went)

I = ih or yi
English = Inoccent (kusava nemhosva)
Word = Ita (do) or ipa "yipa" (bad)

Ipa it has two meanings "give" or "bad" depending on the circumstance. Example, "ipa inini" ("give me" in a demanding way), when used as 'give' you can hear the 'ih' sound. There is also "akaipa" (he/she is bad), when used as 'bad' sounds like 'yipa', but is written as 'ipa'.

O = oh or wo
English = Orange (orenji)
Word = Ona (see)

Ona is written like so, but when spoken sounds it starts with a W making it sound like "wo".

U = ooh or wu
English = Moon (mwedzi)
SHONA = Uri (you are - singular) or udza "wudza" (tell)

Udza is written like so, but when spoken sounds like wudza with "wu"

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PART 2.3 | The issue with remembering 5.

If you want to be an extra human being because you are special you can say Shona has 9 or possibly 14 vowels. Due to combinations.

Honestly, you would actually be smart in thinking this way because you are mentally noting that as a result of combinations Shona creates extra alphabetical letters. Which means when you come across certain words you will automatically know how to pronunciation compared to a person who only memories A, E, I, O, U sounds only.

So here are the total combinations of vowels.

A E I O U

AA EE II OO UU

-- YE YI WO WU

Let's count them:

a(1), e(2), i(3), o(4), u(5), aa(6), ee(7), ii(8), oo(9), uu(10), ye(11), yi(12), wo(13), and wu(14).

The ye, yi, wo and wu sounds usually come out when vowels start a word or are next to each other, sometimes.

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PART 2.4 | Combining Vowels and Vowels

Vowels in Shona are not necessarily combined just next to each other, and they do not create a new sound they are pronounced as individuals. Vowels can also be doubled - and this just means you hold the vowel for a little longer. Examples are as follows;

Chii? = what?
Pronunciation = hold the 'i' that is say it longer.

Aenda = he/she went
Pronunciation = ah-eh-nda (you say the 'a' and 'e' separately)

In English "ae" being together create 'eh' sound e.g. sundae, or aerial

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PART 2.5 | Combining Vowels with consonants

The pronunciation of Shona vowels does not change no matter where you put them. Even if they are next to other vowels. Example the words below;

In the Shona word Amai (mother), vowels 'A' and 'I' are used. While in the English word 'Mail' the combination of 'A' and 'I' make the sound 'ey/ay" and it sounds like 'may-l'.

However, in Shona this never happens, yes, Never. It is not a thing. Example Rae is pronounced as 'ray' in English but in Shona this is Ra-e or "rah-yeh".

Here are vowel and consonant combinations for you to look at.

M and A = Ma

Pronunciation - Market

M and E = Me
Pronunciation - Mess

M and I = Mi
Pronunciation - Miracle

M and O = Mo
Pronunciation - Morning

M and U = Mu
Pronunciation - Mulan

For Mu in English it is predominantly pronounced as ma example Muscle (ma-sol), or it's pronounced as myu example Musical (myu-zi-kal).

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LESSON TWO IS COMPLETE! :)

I will give you guys some examples to practice with later once you have learnt the vowels. :)

Also, don't forget to follow your girl like and comment even to just say hey :), thanks for sticking this far. Toonana (see you later).