Shona Vocabulary

The Shona vocabulary is the backbone for learning. Below we picked 70% of the most commonly used words. Therefore memorizing them will give you a 70% boost in the language. This is the smarter way of online learning. Learn only what you need. We start with commonly used numbers.

One : potsi Two : piri Three : tatu Four : ina Five : shanu Six : nhanhatu Seven : nomwe Eight : sere Nine : pfumbamwe Ten : gumi First : yokutanga Second : yepiri

Time Expressions

Days of the week and time expressions:

Monday : muvhuro Tuesday : chipiri Wednesday : chitatu Thursday : china Friday : chishanu Saturday : mugovera Sunday : svondo Now : iye zvino Yesterday : nezuro Today : nhasi Tonight : manheru anhasi Tomorrow : mangwana

Most popular fruits and vegetables:

Fruits : michero Apples : maapuro Bananas : mabhanana Tomatoes : matomati Potatoes : mbatatisi Onions : hanyanisi

Red : tsvuku Green : girini Blue : bhuruu White : chena Black : nhema Grey : pfumbu

Colors that we think are imprtant to remember:

Some words related to food:

Breakfast : kudya kwemangwanani Lunch : kudya kwemasikati Dinner : kudya kwemanheru Milk : mukaka Coffee : kofi Bread : chingwa

Weather terms and sensations:

Sunny : kune zuva Windy : kune mhepo Rainy : kuri kunaya Snowy : kune sinou Cold : kutonhora Hot : kupisa

Words related to family and relatives:

Boy : mukomana Girl : musikana Son : mwanakomana Daughter : mwanasikana Brother : hanzvadzi Sister : hanzvadzi Man : murume Woman : mukadzi Father : baba Mother : amai Grandfather : sekuru Grandmother : ambuya

Locations in the house which are talked about more during the day:

House : imba Toilet : chimbudzi Room : imba Bedroom : imba yokurara Kitchen : kicheni Table : tafura

Animals and pets popular to everyone:

Cat : katsi Dog : imbwa Mouse : mbeva Bird : shiri Cow : mombe Horse : bhiza

The clothes most worn by most people:

Socks : masokisi Shoes : bhutsu Trousers : tirauzi Shirt : hembe Sweater : juzi Coat : chibhachi

Most popular languages in the world:

English : chirungu French : chifrench German : chigerman Spanish : chispanish Italian : chiitaly Portuguese : chiputukezi Greek : chigreek Russian : chirussia Arabic : chiarabhu Hindi : chihindi Chinese : chichina Japanese : chijapanese

Travel Vocabulary

Most popular terms when traveling:

Taxi : tekisi Bus : bhazi Hotel : hotera Reservation : kubhuka Airport : nhandare yendege Passport : pasipoti

Words you can use in class or talking about school:

Student : mudzidzi Teacher : mudzidzisi Pen : chinyoreso Books : mabhuku Page : peji Dictionary : duramazwi

Body parts which are talked about more often:

Hand : ruoko Feet : tsoka Hair : bvudzi Eye : ziso Mouth : muromo Nose : mhino

Emergency vocabulary to ask for help or offer help when needed:

Ambulance : amburenzi Doctor : chiremba Hospital : chipatara Pharmacy : famasi Police : mapurisa Stomach Ache : kurwadziwa nomudumbu

As you can see, this Shona vocabulary is something you will need every day. You can use our Vocabulary Trainer to help you memorize these words.