maswera sei?
In Shona, "how was your day?" is translated as maswera sei?
maswera sei? is a greeting used to ask someone how they have spent their day. It is typically used in the late afternoon or evening after the day's activities are largely complete.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the prefix ma- (plural/polite marker), the verb root -swera (to spend the day) and the interrogative sei (how).
Which one should you use?
While maswera sei? is polite or plural, waswera sei? is the singular, informal version used with peers or children.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form maswera sei? uses the plural concord ma-, which is the standard way to show respect when addressing a single person.
When do people say it?
A common polite response to maswera sei? is taswera kana maswerawo, which reciprocates the well-wishing.
Did you know?
- The response taswera kana maswerawo essentially means 'we spent the day [well] if you also spent the day [well]'. It frames your own well-being as being linked to the well-being of the other person.
- When responding taswera, the ta- prefix means 'we'. Even if you spent your day alone, you answer in the plural to include your family or household in the well-being of the day.
- Shona has distinct greetings for different times of the day. While maswera sei? is for the afternoon, a similar-sounding phrase mamuka sei? is used specifically for the morning to ask how one 'woke up'.
Examples in context
- Maswera sei?How was your day?
- Vana vako maswera sei?How was your children's day?
Example conversation
Kudzai arrives home and greets Ruvimbo in the kitchen.
- KudzaiRuvimbo, maswera sei?Ruvimbo, how was your day?
- RuvimboNdaswera zvakanaka, Kudzai.My day was good, Kudzai.
- KudzaiZvinofadza kunzwa izvozvo.It is pleasing to hear that.
- RuvimboKo imi, maswera sei?And you, how was your day?
