Kwaziso

For all greetings, the junior person always initiates.

Phrases for different times of the day

Morning greeting

Me: Mangwanani. (Good morning.)

You: Mangwanani. Marara sei? OR Mangwanani. Mamuka sei? (Good morning. How have you slept?)

Me: Tarara mararawo. OR Tamuka mamukawo. (We slept well if you have.)

You: Tarara. OR Tamuka. (We slept well.)

*Choose responses such that they correspond with the preceding statement.

Listen to Chiedza and her mother reciting the morning greeting.

Afternoon greeting

Me: Masikati (Good afternoon).

You: Masikati. Maswera sei? (Good afternoon. How has been your day?)

Me: Taswera maswerawo. (It has been a good day if yours has been.)

You: Taswera. (It has been a good day.)

Listen to the afternoon greeting.

Evening greeting

Me: Manheru. (Good evening).

You: Manheru. maswera sei? (Good evening. How has been your day?)

Me: Taswera maswerawo. (It has been a good day if yours has been).

You: Taswera. (It has been a good day).

Listen to the evening greeting.

Phrases that reflect time past your last encounter

Used after a prolonged period since the last encounter. My prolonged begins after a week.

Me: If face to face, first with a handshake, then proceed once everyone is settled. For a woman, the ideal is to do so while kneeling and clapping with cupped hands.

Me: Makadii zvenyu? (How are you?)

You: Tiripo zvedu, makadiiwo? (We are fine, and how are you?)

Me: Tiripo. (We are fine.)

Listen to the greeting used after a prolonged period since the last encounter.

A word of recognition for that awkward moment, when you wonder whether its not too soon since your last encounter, to greet again.

Me: Pachipamwe.

You: Pamweni.

Each statement is an acknowledgment of the other person’s presence. The first statement means ‘we meet again,’ and the response is an echo of the same. Pamwe means together.

Listen to the greeting used after a very recent encounter.

There are a number of abridged variations to these greetings.