Animals

1. Imbwa

   Dog

   Usage

   Guard dogs are common; also the word you need if you were bitten

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

2. Katsi

   Cat

   Usage

   A domestic cat

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

3. Shiri

   Bird

   Usage

   A bird appears on Zimbabwe's coat of arms; Victoria Falls is the best-known birding area

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

4. Chapungu

   Bateleur eagle

   Usage

   The raptor behind the "Zimbabwe Bird" on the national flag. In Shona belief it carries messages from the ancestors and sighting one is a good omen — a welcome conversation topic

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; the plural is "machapungu".

5. Hove

   Fish

   Usage

   The same word for a live fish and for fish as food; kapenta, the dried fish from Lake Kariba, is a staple

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

6. Bhiza

   Horse

   Usage

   For booking a horseback safari

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; the plural is "mabhiza".

7. Mombe

   Cow / cattle

   Usage

   Cattle sit at the centre of Shona wealth and ritual; bridewealth ("roora") is counted in head of cattle

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

8. Nguruve

   Pig

   Usage

   Show this word to check for pork if you avoid it for religious reasons

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

9. Huku

   Chicken

   Usage

   Both the live bird and the meat; free-range village chicken, "huku yemusha", is prized

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

10. Mbudzi

    Goat

    Usage

    Common rural livestock; "Mbudzi" is also the Shona name of the month of November

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

11. Hwai

    Sheep

    Usage

    Less common than goats but kept on farms

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

12. Nzou

    Elephant

    Usage

    Hwange National Park holds one of Africa's largest elephant populations; the elephant is also a Shona clan totem ("mutupo")

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

13. Twiza

    Giraffe

    Usage

    Use it to tell a safari guide what you hope to see

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

14. Mbizi

    Zebra

    Usage

    Common on safari and in private reserves

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

15. Shumba

    Lion

    Usage

    One of the Big Five, and one of the best-known Shona clan totems — it is used as a personal name too

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

16. Mbada

    Leopard

    Usage

    The hardest of the Big Five to spot; largely nocturnal

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

17. Mvuu

    Hippopotamus

    Usage

    Abundant in the Zambezi and Lake Kariba; regarded as the most dangerous animal near water, so stay with your guide

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

18. Chipembere

    Rhinoceros

    Usage

    One of the Big Five. Because of poaching, reserves often ask you not to post geotagged photos

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (chi-) noun; the plural is "zvipembere".

19. Nyati

    Buffalo

    Usage

    One of the Big Five; they move in herds, and it is also a clan totem

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

20. Tsoko

    Monkey

    Usage

    The word you need if a monkey took your things; they are everywhere on the Victoria Falls walkways. Never show them food

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical. It is also a clan totem.

21. Gudo

    Baboon

    Usage

    Troops line reserve roads; keep windows shut. Applied to a person it is an insult, so use it only for the animal

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "magudo". It stars in the Shona folktale "Tsuro naGudo" — Hare and Baboon.

22. Tsuro

    Hare

    Usage

    The trickster hero of Shona folktales who outwits the strong. Mention it to children and the conversation takes off

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

23. Nyoka

    Snake

    Usage

    An emergency word when hiking; show it at a clinic if you were bitten

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

24. Shato

    Python

    Usage

    Non-venomous but large. In Shona belief it is linked to water spirits, and in some areas killing one is taboo

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

25. Garwe

    Crocodile

    Usage

    Found in the Zambezi and Lake Kariba; mention it when asking whether water is safe to swim in

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "magarwe".

26. Kamba

    Tortoise

    Usage

    Watch for them crossing roads; they appear often in folktales

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

27. Datya

    Frog

    Usage

    You will hear them at night in the rainy season, November to March

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "matatya".

28. Dzvinyu

    Lizard / gecko

    Usage

    A harmless wall-dweller at guesthouses that eats mosquitoes

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "madzvinyu".

29. Gonzo

    Rat

    Usage

    Report one to reception with this word; a small mouse is "mbeva"

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "magonzo".

30. Mbeva

    Mouse

    Usage

    In some rural areas field mice are dried and eaten as a preserved snack

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

31. Chiremwaremwa

    Bat

    Usage

    They come out at dusk and are a talking point on cave tours

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (chi-) noun; the plural is "zviremwaremwa".

32. Umhutu

    Mosquito

    Usage

    The Zambezi valley and Lake Kariba are malarial; bring repellent and use a net

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun; the plural is "mihutu".

33. Svosve

    Ant

    Usage

    They arrive if food is left out

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "masvosve".

34. Nyuchi

    Bee

    Usage

    Needed if you have a bee allergy; honey is "uchi"

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

35. Nhunzi

    Fly

    Usage

    They gather on food at stalls and markets — a common comment when eating outside

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

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