Body Parts

1. Musoro

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head; "musoro unorwadza" means my head hurts

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 (mu-) noun; the plural is "misoro".

2. Bvudzi

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; Standard Shona writes class 5 without a prefix. The plural is "mabvudzi".

3. Chiso

   Face

   Usage

   Use it to mark the treatment area at a spa, or to show where a skin problem is

   Grammar Note

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

4. Ziso

   Eye

   Usage

   Use for one eye when reporting an eye problem

   Grammar Note

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

5. Nzeve

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is identical, "nzeve".

6. Mhino

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun.

7. Muromo

   Mouth

   Usage

   For mouth ulcers or pain inside the mouth

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 (mu-) noun; the plural is "miromo". It also covers the lips.

8. Zino

   Tooth

   Usage

   For toothache; also works at a dental reception

   Grammar Note

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

9. Rurimi

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burn or a change in taste; the same word also means "language"

   Grammar Note

   A class 11 (ru-) noun; the plural is "ndimi".

10. Mutsipa

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck; the inside of the throat is "huro"

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (mu-) noun; the plural is "mitsipa".

11. Huro

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat, at a pharmacy or a clinic

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

12. Pfudzi

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain, or to mark where you want a massage

    Grammar Note

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

13. Ruoko

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Shona uses one word for hand and arm; point at the part you mean to make it clear

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (ru-) noun; the plural is "maoko".

14. Gokora

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a painful or grazed elbow

    Grammar Note

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

15. Chigunwe

    Finger / toe

    Usage

    To point out an injured digit; toes take the same word, so show which you mean

    Grammar Note

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

16. Nzara

    Nail

    Usage

    To say a nail is broken or torn off. The same spelling is also a separate word meaning hunger, so always point at your nail while showing it

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; "nail" and "hunger" are a tonal minimal pair sharing this spelling.

17. Chipfuva

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or breathlessness; point to your ribcage

    Grammar Note

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

18. Dumbu

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Shona does not split belly from stomach — both are "dumbu"; as a location it becomes "mudumbu", inside the belly

    Grammar Note

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

19. Musana

    Back / lower back

    Usage

    Shona does not split "back" from "lower back", so point to where it hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (mu-) noun; the plural is "misana".

20. Magaro

    Buttocks

    Usage

    For where an injection goes, or soreness after a long journey; normally used in the plural

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 (ma-) plural, from the same root as "kugara" (to sit).

21. Gumbo

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Shona uses one word for leg and foot; point to where it hurts

    Grammar Note

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

22. Ibvi

    Knee

    Usage

    For a sore or injured knee

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "mabvi". It is also written "bvi" without the prefix.

23. Ganda

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, insect bite or sunburn

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "makanda". It also means an animal hide.

24. Ropa

    Blood

    Usage

    The base word for tests, transfusions and bleeding

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun.

25. Pfupa

    Bone

    Usage

    Point to the sore spot if you suspect a fracture

    Grammar Note

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

26. Mwoyo

    Heart

    Usage

    For explaining a heart condition. Figuratively it also means the heart as feeling — "kuora mwoyo" is to lose heart

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun, also spelt "moyo"; the plural is identical.

27. Ura

    Intestines

    Usage

    Used when discussing stomach trouble or diarrhoea

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; it can also cover the innards generally.

28. Mapapu

    Lungs

    Usage

    For a cough or difficulty breathing; normally used in the plural

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 (ma-) plural; the singular is the class 5 "papu".

29. Chiropa

    Liver

    Usage

    For discussing a condition or medication; it is also liver as food

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (chi-) noun; the plural is "zviropa". It shares a root with "ropa" (blood).

30. Itsvo

    Kidney

    Usage

    Used when explaining a kidney condition or stones

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is identical.

31. Uropi

    Brain

    Usage

    Used for scans after a head injury

    Grammar Note

    A class 14 (u-) noun; not counted for number.

32. Muviri

    Body

    Usage

    The base word for feeling unwell all over, when you cannot localise the pain

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (mu-) noun; the plural is "miviri".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages