Common Shona Names

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.

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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.