Here you will find common names of animals, birds, fish and reptiles in Shona language. The
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
link to view the meanings of abbreviations used.
cow - mhou KZ; n'ombe hadzi M
heifer - katsiru M; mhorombe KZ
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calf - mhuru KKoMZ
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oxen - ngavi KMZ; nzombe KMZ
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bull - ngunzi; handira KMZ
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donkey - dongi KMZ; mbongoro Ng
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horse - bhiza KMZ
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goat - mbudzi KKoMZ
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sheep - gwayi K; hwai KMZ
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pig - nguruve KMZ; humba KoZ
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bushpig - humba KoZ; ngurungunda KZ
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warthog - njiri KMZ; hwami Z
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aardvark - dikita K; dzimba M; gweru Z
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puppy - mbwanana KMZ
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domestic dog - imbwa KKoMZ
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Wild dog - mhumhi KKoMZ
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black-backed jackal - hungubwe K; manyene M
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fowl - huku KKoMZ
hen - mhambo K; nhunzvi yehuku KZ; tseketse M
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chicken - hukwana KMZ
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cock; rooster - jongwe KMZ
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duck - dhadha KMZ
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domestic cat - kiti
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wild cat - nhiriri KKoZ; bonga MZ
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leopard - mbada KKOMZ; ingwe KoMZ
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cheetah - dindingwe KMZ
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serval cat - nzunza KZ; nzudzi M
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lion - shumba KKoMZ0
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baboon - gudo KKoMZ; bveni KoMZ
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monkey - shoko KKoMZ
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aardwolf - mbizimumwena KZ; mwena KZ
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spotted hyena - bere KZ; magondo KM; svitsi Ko
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elephant - zhou K; nzou KoMZ; mhuvi Ko
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hippo - mvuu KKoMZ
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wilderbeest - mvumba KMZ
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buffalo - nyati KMZ
buffalo bull - rambwa Z
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impala - mhara KZ
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kudu - nhoro KMZ
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caracal - hwana K; twana MZ
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bushbaby - chinhavira MZ; gwee K
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giraffe - twza KMZ
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rhino - chipembere KMZ
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rock rabbit - mbira KMZ
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hare - shuro K; tsuro MZ
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dassie - mbira KMZ; dzvito Z; tsvito M
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civet - jachacha KZ; bvungo M
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honey badger - sere K; tsere MZ
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anteater - haka KZ; harakabvuka M
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polecat - chidembo KMZ
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porcupine - nungu KZ; ngwewewe M
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mouse - mbeva KMZ
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tortoise - kamba KKoMZ; hamba KMZ
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lizard - dzvinyu KKoMZ
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agama - chidhambakura K; chiguyakuya MZ; chidambakura Z
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ostrich - mhou KZ; mhowani M
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korhaan - gaudya Z; guhwi K
black-bellied korhaan - gubwi K; gunja M; renge Z
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firefinch - tondondo K; kandirendire Z
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Melba finch - njekedya Z; zazo K
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eagle - gondo KMZ
martial eagle - chinyamudzura KMZ
fish eagle - hungwe KZ
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augur buzzard - nyamudzura KZ
lizard buzzard - chikondomatsvinyu Z; chikondomasvina Z
steppe buzzard - chikondomatsvinyu Z
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hawk - rukodzi KoMZ; ruvangu K
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falcon kestrel - rukodzi KMZ
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valture - gora KMZ
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crane - horiori Z; muhori M
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secretary bird - hwata KMZ; mukwasi KM
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owl - zizi KKoMZ
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guineafowl - hanga KKoMZ
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swallow - nyenganyenga KMZ
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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
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dove - njiva KKoMZ
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stork - shohwari K; dambiramurove K; shuramurove KoMZ
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pied crow - gunguo KKoM; savara Z
black crow - chikunguobya KZ
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animals - mhuka KKoMZ
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squirrel - shindi K; tsindi MZ
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crab - gakanje KMZ
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house fly - nhunzi KMZ
horsefly - n'ono KMZ; gunura M
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bee - nyuchi KKoMZ
bumblebee - dzingidzi KMZ
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flea - nhata KMZ
poultry flea - takata M; uzanguku KZ
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mosquito - umhutu KKoMZ; utunga KM
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caterpillar (gen. name) - chikukwa KZ
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caterpillar - gonye KKoMZdescript
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butterfly: mbembenene K; fufura M; shaveshave Z
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soldier termite - juru KMZ
termites - majuru KMZ
termites (edible flying termites) - ishwa MZ; shwarara K
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millipeed - zongororo KZdescript
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centipeed - mhani KZ; manimhani KZ; mhisa M
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spider - buve KZ; buwe M
trap-door spider - buwi M
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bombardier beetle - dundira KZ; jorishori M
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dung beetle; scarab - nyamututa MZ; chituta K; ngoko M; demhure Z
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praying mantis - mbuyambuya K; kachemberebande KZ; chiremba M
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large, edible sand cricket - gurwe KMZ; gurene Ko
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locust - mhashu KMZ; hwiza Z; ndongwe M
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snail - hondywe KM; hozhwe KZ
snail shell - homba K
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frog - dafi KMZ; dacha K; chura KoZ
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dragon fly - mukonikoni KMZdescript
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snake - nyoka KKoMZ
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cobra - nyamafungu KMZdescript
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blackmamba - rovambira KMZ
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python - shato KKoMZ
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fish - hove KKoMZ
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bream - gwaya KZ
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catfish - mhatye K; muhono M; muramba Z
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minnow - sinde KZ
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monitor lizard - burwa KZ; mwauru M
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crocodile - garwe KMZ; ngwena KKoM; nyakoko Ko
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chameleon - gwaivhi K; rwaivhi KMZ
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zebra - mbizi KMZ
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link to view the meanings of abbreviations used. The
page has a more comprehensive listing of names and includes names in different Shona dialects.