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 KMZ

sheep - gwayi K; hwai KMZ

pig - nguruve KMZ; humba KoZ

bushpig - humba KoZ; ngurungunda KZ

warthog - njiri KMZ; hwami Z

ant-bear - dikita K; dzimba M; gweru Z

puppy - mbwanana KMZ

domestic dog - imbwa KKoMZ

Wild dog - mhumbi

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; 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 - mbvuu KMZ

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

dessie - 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

lizard - dzvinyu KKoMZ

agama - chidhambakura

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 Z
lizard buzzard - chikondomatsvinyu 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; husvu
long tailed starling - hwirikwiri
red-winged starling - ngwitsvo Z; mangwitsvo; sviho
violet-backed starling - nyerure K

dove - njiva KKoMZ

stork - 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

beetle: dundira KZ; jorishori M
dung beetle; scarab - nyamututa; ngoko; nyangara

mosquito - umhutu KKoMZ; utunga KM

caterpillar (gen. name) - chikukwa K

caterpillar - gonye KKoMZ

butterfly: mbembenene K; fufura M; shaveshave Z

termites - majuru 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

flea - nhata KMZ
poultry flea - takata M; uzanguku KZ

beetle - dundira KZ; jorishori M

dung beetle; scarab - nyamututa; ngoko; nyangara

large, edible sand cricket - gurwe KMZ; gurene Ko

locust - mhashu KMZ; hwiza Z; ndongwe M

snail - hondywe KM; hozhwe KZ
snail shell - homba K

snake - nyoka KKoMZ

cobra - nyamafungu KMZ

black mamba - rovambira KMZ

fish - hove KKoMZ

catfish; barbel - mhatye K; muhono M; muramba Z


catfish; barbel - mhatye K; muhono M; muramba Z

catfish; barbel - mhatye K; muhono M; muramba Z

crocodile - garwe KMZ; ngwena KKoM; nyakoko Ko
t_chameleon_1183.jpg
chameleon - gwaivhi K; rwaivhi KMZ
t_ele-shrew.jpg
elephant shrew - mudhende KZ; dune MZ

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.