uri kuitei?
To ask "what are you doing?" in Shona, use uri kuitei?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about the activity they are performing at the current moment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uri kuitei? literally breaks down to "you are doing what?", where uri is "you are" and kuitei is "doing what".
How does it change in a sentence?
When answering the question, the subject prefix changes from u- (you) to n- (I), resulting in ndiri kuita… (I am doing…).
Did you know?
- When asking uri kuitei? to an elder or a person of higher status, it is customary to use the plural form muri kuitei? to show respect.
- The verb kuita used in this phrase is a 'do-it-all' verb in Shona. It can mean 'to do' 'to make' 'to become' or 'to happen' depending on the context.
- Shona is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying uri kuitei? can change the emotional nuance from genuine curiosity to suspicion.
Example conversation
Farai walks into the kitchen and sees Chipo cooking.
- FaraiChipo, uri kuitei?Chipo, what are you doing?
- ChipoNdiri kubika sadza.I am cooking sadza.
- FaraiZvinonhuwa zvakanaka!It smells good!
- ChipoTenda, Farai.Thank you, Farai.
