Basic Nouns

1. Mvura

   Water

   Usage

   Ask for drinking water; pair it with “bottle” if you want sealed water

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun. Shona nouns take a class prefix (mu-, chi-, ma- …).

2. Chikafu

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food; useful when hunting for somewhere to eat

   Grammar Note

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

3. Mari

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for paying and changing currency

4. Chimbuzi

   Toilet

   Usage

   Combine it with the “where” question

   Grammar Note

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

5. Tishu

   Tissue

   Usage

   Many toilets have no paper — use this word to buy some

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English "tissue."

6. Mushonga

   Medicine

   Usage

   At a pharmacy; combine it with gestures for your symptom

   Grammar Note

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

7. Mukwende

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, carrying on, or reporting lost bags

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 (mu-) noun; a whole set of travel bags is the plural "mikwende."

8. Kiyi

   Key

   Usage

   At hotel reception when collecting or returning it

9. Tikiti

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both transport tickets and admission tickets

10. Pasipoti

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, currency exchange, and any police check

11. Runhare

    Phone

    Usage

    When you need to borrow one or ask for a number

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (ru-) noun; in everyday speech the English-derived "foni" is also common.

12. Chaja

    Charger

    Usage

    To borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one in a shop

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English "charger."

13. Chiteshi

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. Chipatara

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Mapurisa

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; combine it with “where?”

16. Chitoro

    Shop

    Usage

    When looking for somewhere to buy something

17. Kamuri

    Room

    Usage

    Use it when asking a hotel about vacancies

18. Mugwagwa

    Road

    Usage

    The base word when asking the way

19. Mhuri

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic; showing photos goes a long way

20. Zita

    Name

    Usage

    For introductions and for giving your name at a counter

    Grammar Note

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

21. Musoro

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

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

22. Ziso

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "maziso."

23. Zino

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "mazino."

24. Huro

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

25. Mutsipa

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at your neck

    Grammar Note

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

26. Dumbu

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Show where your stomach ache is

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "madumbu." In the locative it becomes "mudumbu."

27. Musana

    Back / lower back

    Usage

    Point at your back or lower back

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (mu-) noun.

28. Gumbo

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Point at your leg or foot; Shona uses one word for both

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "makumbo."

29. Ruoko

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Point at your hand or arm; Shona uses one word for both

    Grammar Note

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

30. Chipfuva

    Chest

    Usage

    Point at your chest

    Grammar Note

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

31. Nzeve

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at your ear

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

32. Pfudzi

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at your shoulder

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "mapfudzi."

33. Ibvi

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at your knee

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "mabvi." Also written without the prefix as "bvi."

34. Chigunwe

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at your finger; the same word covers toes

    Grammar Note

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

35. Ganda

    Skin

    Usage

    Point at your skin when showing a rash or irritation

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "makanda."

36. Mhino

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at your nose

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

37. Muromo

    Mouth

    Usage

    Point at your mouth

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (mu-) noun; plural "miromo."

38. Hotera

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show where you want to go, or ask for a hotel

39. Nhandare yendege

    Airport

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi driver as your destination

40. Chiteshi chemabhazi

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Ask where the bus stop is

41. Nzvimbo yekuchinjira mari

    Money exchange

    Usage

    Look for a place to change money

42. Nzvimbo yekuwachira mbatya

    Laundry

    Usage

    Look for a place to wash clothes

43. ATM

    Usage

    Look for a cash machine

44. Embasi

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show that you need to reach your embassy

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