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Common Shona Names
Here you will find common names of animals, birds, fish and reptiles in Shona language. The
English-Shona
page has a more comprehensive listing of names and includes names in different Shona dialects. Just like plants, some animals are only found in certain regions of Zimbabwe and names of those animals reflect the Shona dialects spoken in those regions. Click this
Abbreviations
link to view the meanings of abbreviations used.
cow -
mhou KZ; n'ombe hadzi M
heifer -
katsiru M; mhorombe KZ
calf -
mhuru KKoMZ
oxen -
ngavi KMZ; nzombe KMZ
bull -
ngunzi; handira KMZ
donkey -
dongi KMZ; mbongoro Ng
horse -
bhiza KMZ
goat -
mbudzi KKoMZ
sheep -
gwayi K; hwai KMZ
pig -
nguruve KMZ; humba KoZ
bushpig -
humba KoZ; ngurungunda KZ
warthog -
njiri KMZ; hwami Z
aardvark -
dikita K; dzimba M; gweru Z
puppy -
mbwanana KMZ
domestic dog -
imbwa KKoMZ
Wild dog -
mhumhi KKoMZ
black-backed jackal -
hungubwe K; manyene M
fowl -
huku KKoMZ
hen -
mhambo K; nhunzvi yehuku KZ; tseketse M
chicken -
hukwana KMZ
cock; rooster -
jongwe KMZ
duck -
dhadha KMZ
domestic cat -
kiti
wild cat -
nhiriri KKoZ; bonga MZ
leopard -
mbada KKOMZ; ingwe KoMZ
cheetah -
dindingwe KMZ
serval cat -
nzunza KZ; nzudzi M
lion -
shumba KKoMZ
baboon -
gudo KKoMZ; bveni KoMZ
monkey -
shoko KKoMZ
aardwolf -
mbizimumwena KZ; mwena KZ
spotted hyena -
bere KZ; magondo KM; svitsi Ko
elephant -
zhou K; nzou KoMZ; mhuvi Ko
hippo -
mvuu KKoMZ
wilderbeest -
mvumba KMZ
buffalo -
nyati KMZ
buffalo bull -
rambwa Z
impala -
mhara KZ
kudu -
nhoro KMZ
caracal -
hwana K; twana MZ
bushbaby -
chinhavira MZ; gwee K
giraffe -
twza KMZ
rhinoceros -
chipembere KMZ
rock rabbit -
mbira KMZ
hare -
shuro K; tsuro MZ
dassie -
mbira KMZ; dzvito Z; tsvito M
civet -
jachacha KZ; bvungo M
honey badger -
sere K; tsere MZ
anteater -
haka KZ; harakabvuka M
polecat -
chidembo KMZ
porcupine -
nungu KZ; ngwewewe M
mouse -
mbeva KMZ
tortoise -
kamba KKoMZ; hamba KMZ
lizard -
dzvinyu KKoMZ
agama -
chidhambakura K; chiguyakuya MZ; chidambakura Z
ostrich -
mhou KZ; mhowani M
korhaan -
gaudya Z; guhwi K
black-bellied korhaan -
gubwi K; gunja M; renge Z
firefinch -
tondondo K; kandirendire Z
Melba finch -
njekedya Z; zazo K
eagle -
gondo KMZ
martial eagle -
chinyamudzura KMZ
fish eagle -
hungwe KZ
augur buzzard -
nyamudzura KZ
lizard buzzard -
chikondomatsvinyu Z; chikondomasvina Z
steppe buzzard -
chikondomatsvinyu Z
hawk -
rukodzi KoMZ; ruvangu K
falcon kestrel -
rukodzi KMZ
valture -
gora KMZ
crane -
horiori Z; muhori M
secretary bird -
hwata KMZ; mukwasi KM
owl -
zizi KKoMZ
guineafowl -
hanga KKoMZ
swallow -
nyenganyenga KMZ
Cape glossy starling -
hwidzikwidzi Z; husvu KZ
long tailed starling -
hwirikwiri Z
red-winged starling -
ngwitsvo Z; hosviro K; sviho M
violet-backed starling -
nyerure K
dove -
njiva KKoMZ
stork -
shohwari K; dambiramurove K; shuramurove KoMZ
pied crow -
gunguo KKoM; savara Z
black crow - chikunguobya KZ
animals -
mhuka KKoMZ
squirrel -
shindi K; tsindi MZ
crab -
gakanje KMZ
house fly -
nhunzi KMZ
horsefly -
n'ono KMZ; gunura M
bee -
nyuchi KKoMZ
bumblebee -
dzingidzi KMZ
flea -
nhata KMZ
poultry flea -
takata M; uzanguku KZ
mosquito -
umhutu KKoMZ; utunga KM
caterpillar (gen. name) -
chikukwa KZ
caterpillar -
gonye KKoMZ
butterfly:
mbembenene K; fufura M; shaveshave Z
soldier termite -
juru KMZ
termites -
majuru KMZ
termites (edible flying termites) -
ishwa MZ; shwarara K
millipeed -
zongororo KZ
centipeed -
mhani KZ; manimhani KZ; mhisa M
spider -
buve KZ; buwe M
trap-door spider -
buwi M
bombardier beetle:
dundira KZ; jorishori M
dung beetle; scarab -
nyamututa MZ; chituta K; ngoko M; demhure Z
praying mantis -
mbuyambuya K; kachemberebande KZ; chiremba M
large, edible sand cricket -
gurwe KMZ; gurene Ko
locust -
mhashu KMZ; hwiza Z; ndongwe M
snail -
hondywe KM; hozhwe KZ
snail shell -
homba K
frog -
dafi KMZ; dacha K; chura KoZ
dragon fly -
mukonikoni KMZ
snake -
nyoka KKoMZ
cobra -
nyamafungu KMZ
blackmamba -
rovambira KMZ
python -
shato KKoMZ
fish -
hove KKoMZ
bream -
gwaya KZ
catfish -
mhatye K; muhono M; muramba Z
minnow -
sinde KZ
monitor lizard -
burwa KZ; mwauru M
crocodile -
garwe KMZ; ngwena KKoM; nyakoko Ko
chameleon -
gwaivhi K; rwaivhi KMZ
zebra -
mbizi KMZ
Again, click this
Abbreviations
link to view the meanings of abbreviations used. The
English-Shona
page has a more comprehensive listing of names and includes names in different Shona dialects.
Submitting Shona Words
Help increase the Shona word list in the database for these Shona Language pages by submitting additional words I omitted and their meanings. Omissions may include instances where I did not cover all possible meanings of a word. In that case, treat the word as a new word and include all possible meanings for the word in question. Basic guide to submitting omitted words is on the Add Words page.
We need your feedback
This is an ongoing project and any suggestions you have to improve information offered here would be greatly appreciated. E-mail any comments or suggestions you have to
Martin Shumba
.