-na (canonical)
vana (class-2 plural-only)
mina (class-4 plural-only)
mana (class-6 plural-only)
zvina (class-8 plural-only)
ina (class-10 plural-only)
tuna (class-13 plural-only)


baba

babá (canonical class-1a)
vababá (class-2 plural)


tema

-temá (canonical)
mutemá (class-1 singular)
vatemá (class-2 plural)
mutemá (class-3 singular)
mitemá (class-4 plural)
demá (class-5 singular)
matemá (class-6 plural)
chitemá (class-7 singular)
zvitemá (class-8 plural)
nhemá (class-9 singular)
nhemá (class-10 plural)
rutemá (class-11 singular)
katemá (class-12 singular)
tutemá (class-13 plural)
utemá (class-14 singular)
kutemá (class-15 singular)
patemá (class-15 class-16 singular)
kutemá (class-13 class-17 plural)
mutemá (class-18 plural)


hope

From the root of Common Bantu *dʊ̀kópè, whence also chikope (“eyelid”).


mari

marí (canonical class-9)
marí (class-10 plural)

From Swahili mali, from Arabic مَال (māl).


bara

bará (canonical class-5)
mapará (class-6 plural)


joki

jóki (canonical class-5)
majóki (class-6 plural)


gumi

gúmí (canonical class-5)
makúmí (class-6 plural)


mwaka

mwaká (canonical class-3)
mwaká (class-4 plural)


tsotsi

sn-noun

tsótsi class 5 (plural matsótsi class 6)

tsótsi (canonical class-5)
matsótsi (class-6 plural)

criminal, thug, gangster, hooligan, hoodlum


tatu

-tatú (canonical)
vatatú (class-2 plural-only)
mitatú (class-4 plural-only)
matatú (class-6 plural-only)
zvitatú (class-8 plural-only)
nhatú (class-10 plural-only)
tutatú (class-13 plural-only)


sere

-séré (canonical)
vaséré (class-2 plural-only)
miséré (class-4 plural-only)
maséré (class-6 plural-only)
zviséré (class-8 plural-only)
tséré (class-10 plural-only)
tuséré (class-13 plural-only)


godo

gódó (canonical class-5)
makódó (class-6 plural)

Seemingly an innovation unique to the Shona group.


muti

mutí (canonical class-3)
mití (class-4 plural)


viri

-virí (canonical)
vavirí (class-2 plural-only)
mivirí (class-4 plural-only)
mavirí (class-6 plural-only)
zvivirí (class-8 plural-only)
mbirí (class-10 plural-only)
tuvirí (class-13 plural-only)


ruoko

ruókó (canonical class-11)
maókó (class-6 plural)


sadza

sadza, nshima (maize porridge, a staple in Shona cuisine)


mbira

mbíra (canonical class-9)
mbíra (class-10 plural)


Josefa

a male given name, equivalent to English Joseph


hure

húre (canonical class-5)
mahúre (class-6 plural)


zino

zínó (canonical class-5)
mazínó (class-6 plural)


chena

-chená (canonical)
muchená (class-1 singular)
vachená (class-2 plural)
muchená (class-3 singular)
michená (class-4 plural)
jená (class-5 singular)
machená (class-6 plural)
chichená (class-7 singular)
zvichená (class-8 plural)
chená (class-9 singular)
chená (class-10 plural)
ruchená (class-11 singular)
kachená (class-12 singular)
tuchená (class-13 plural)
uchená (class-14 singular)
kuchená (class-15 singular)
pachená (class-15 class-16 singular)
kuchená (class-13 class-17 plural)
muchená (class-18 plural)


moyo

heart (used in anatomy to refer to the muscular organ which pumps blood throughout the body, as well as in "metaphorical" terms in reference to emotional or romantic experiences)


mhata

mhátá (canonical class-9)
mhátá (class-10 plural)

(slang, vulgar) bad-mannered person, asshole


nyundo

A widely diffused word ultimately from Swahili nyundo.


chizi

chízi (canonical class-9)
chízi (class-10 plural)


ndege

ndége (canonical class-9)
ndége (class-10 plural)

Borrowed from Swahili ndege (“bird, airplane”).


mwana

mwaná (canonical class-1)
vaná (class-2 plural)


gejo

From a Nguni language. Compare Zulu igeja.


imba

imbá (canonical class-9)
dzimbá (class-10 plural)


gazi

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu igazi.


zamu

zámú (canonical class-5)
mazámú (class-6 plural)

Borrowed from a Khoe language; compare Khoekhoe sams.


dako

dákó (canonical class-5)
matákó (class-6 plural)


svondo

svondo class 5 (plural masvondo class 6)

svondo (canonical class-9)
svondo (canonical class-5)
svondo (class-10 plural)
masvondo (class-6 plural)

The same word as Svondo (“Sunday”). From a Nguni language, ultimately from Afrikaans Sondag; compare Zulu isonto (“week; church”) and iSonto (“Sunday”).


nyanza

nyanzá (canonical class-9)
nyanzá (class-10 plural)

Cognate to Rwanda-Rundi inyanja and Chichewa nyanja.


chikope

chikópé class 7 (plural zvikópé class 8)

chikópé (canonical class-7)
zvikópé (class-8 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *dʊ̀kópè. Cognate with Zulu ukhophe (“eyelash”), Swahili ukope (“eyelid, eyelash”), Rwanda-Rundi urugohe (“eyelid, eyelash”).


shanu

-shánu (canonical)
vashánu (class-2 plural-only)
mishánu (class-4 plural-only)
mashánu (class-6 plural-only)
zvishánu (class-8 plural-only)
shánu (class-10 plural-only)
tushánu (class-13 plural-only)


ndarama

sn-noun

ndaramá class 9 (plural ndaramá class 10)

ndaramá (canonical class-9)
ndaramá (class-10 plural)

A regional wanderwort, ultimately from Arabic دَرَاهِم (darāhim, “dirhams”); cognates include Tswana talama (“button”), Chichewa ndalama (“money”), and Tsonga ndzalama (“gem”).


mwe

-mwé (canonical)
múmwe (class-1 singular)
úmwe (class-1 singular)
vámwé (class-2 plural)
múmwé (class-3 singular)
mímwé (class-4 plural)
rímwé (class-5 singular)
mámwé (class-6 plural)
chímwé (class-7 singular)
zvímwé (class-8 plural)
ímwé (class-9 singular)
dzímwé (class-10 plural)
rúmwé (class-11 singular)
kámwe (class-12 singular)
túmwé (class-13 plural)
úmwé (class-14 singular)
kúmwé (class-15 singular)
pámwé (class-15 class-16 singular)
kúmwé (class-13 class-17 plural)
múmwé (class-18 plural)


jasi

jási (canonical class-5)
majási (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Southern Ndebele ijasi), from Afrikaans jas.


simbi

Cognate with Zulu insimbi, Luganda ensimbi. Ultimately from the verb -simba (“be strong”).


dhuku

dhúku (canonical class-5)
madhúku (class-6 plural)


magetsi

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ugesi), from English gas.


mboro

mbóró (canonical class-9)
mbóró (class-10 plural)


mimba

mímbá (canonical class-9)
mímbá (class-10 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *mbímbà, derived from Proto-Bantu *-bímba (“to swell”).


mbeu

mbéú (canonical class-9)
mbéú (class-10 plural)


chipfuva

chipfúvá class 7 (plural zvipfúvá class 8)

chipfúvá (canonical class-7)
zvipfúvá (class-8 plural)


rurimi

rurímí (canonical class-11)
ndímí (class-10 plural)


musikana

musíkaná class 1 (plural vasíkaná class 2)

musíkaná (canonical class-1)
vasíkaná (class-2 plural)


mukomana

mukómaná class 1 (plural vakómaná class 2)

mukómaná (canonical class-1)
vakómaná (class-2 plural)


chikoro

chikóro class 7 (plural zvikóro class 8)

chikóro (canonical class-7)
zvikóro (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (like Northern Ndebele isikolo), ultimately from Afrikaans skool.


vhiki

vhíki (canonical class-9)
vhíki (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Northern Ndebele iviki), from Afrikaans week.


mutumba

mutumba class 3 (plural mitumba class 4)


bvupa

bvúpá (canonical class-5)
mapfúpá (class-6 plural)


goridhe

From a Nguni language (compare Northern Ndebele igolide), from English gold.


sirivha

sírivha class 9 (plural sírivha class 10)

sírivha (canonical class-9)
sírivha (class-10 plural)

From English silver; compare Zulu isiliva.


foshoro

fóshoro class 9 (plural fóshoro class 10)

fóshoro (canonical class-9)
fóshoro (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language in which metathesis was applied (compare Zulu ifosholo), from English shovel.


bakayau

bakayáu class 5 (plural mabakayáu class 6)

bakayáu (canonical class-5)
mabakayáu (class-6 plural)


hembe

hémbe (canonical class-9)
hémbe (class-10 plural)


bhotoro

bhótoro class 5 (plural mabhótoro class 6)

bhótoro (canonical class-5)
mabhótoro (class-6 plural)


kandyera

kándyera class 5 (plural makándyera class 6)

kándyera class 9 (plural kándyera class 10)

kándyera (canonical class-5)
kándyera (canonical class-9)
makándyera (class-6 plural)
kándyera (class-10 plural)

Claimed to be from Portuguese, although candeia is an imperfect match.


bhikiri

bhíkirí class 5 (plural mabhíkirí class 6)

bhíkirí (canonical class-5)
mabhíkirí (class-6 plural)


rokwe

rókwe (canonical class-5)
marókwe (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Southern Ndebele ilokwe), from Afrikaans rok.


zuva

zúvá (canonical class-5)
mazúvá (class-6 plural)


chikei

chikéi (canonical class-7)
zvikéi (class-8 plural)


tsvigiri

tsvigíri class 9 (plural tsvigíri class 10)

tsvigíri (canonical class-9)
tsvigíri (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Xhosa iswekile), from Afrikaans suiker.


bhurukwa

bhurúkwa class 5 (plural mabhurúkwa class 6)

bhurúkwa (canonical class-5)
mabhurúkwa (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ibhulukwe), from Afrikaans broek.


purazi

purázi class 5 (plural mapurázi class 6)

purázi (canonical class-5)
purázi (canonical class-9)
mapurázi (class-6 plural)
purázi (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Northern Ndebele ipulazi), from Afrikaans plaas.


garafa

garáfa class 5 (plural magaráfa class 6)

garáfa (canonical class-5)
magaráfa (class-6 plural)


famu

fámu (canonical class-9)
fámu (class-10 plural)


bhachi

bháchi class 5 (plural mabháchi class 6)

bháchi (canonical class-5)
mabháchi (class-6 plural)

From Afrikaans baadjie, from Dutch baadje, from Malay baju, from Classical Persian بازو (bāzū).


chechi

chéchi (canonical class-9)
chéchi (class-10 plural)


chamboko

chambóko class 7 (plural zvambóko class 8)

chambóko (canonical class-7)
zvambóko (class-8 plural)


chikwereti

chikwéreti class 7 (plural zvikwéreti class 8)

chikwéreti (canonical class-7)
zvikwéreti (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu isikweleti), from Afrikaans skuld.


kirike

kiríke class 5 (plural makiríke class 6)

kiríke (canonical class-9)
kiríke (canonical class-5)
kiríke (class-10 plural)
makiríke (class-6 plural)


dhirezi

dhirézi class 5 (plural madhirézi class 6)

dhirézi (canonical class-5)
madhirézi (class-6 plural)


bhokisi

bhókisi class 5 (plural mabhókisi class 6)

bhókisi (canonical class-5)
mabhókisi (class-6 plural)

From English box, probably via a Nguni language (compare Zulu ibhokisi (“box, coffin”)).


chituru

chitúru class 7 (plural zvitúru class 8)

chitúru (canonical class-7)
zvitúru (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Southern Ndebele isitulo), from Afrikaans stoel.


kanduru

kánduru class 5 (plural makánduru class 6)

kánduru class 9 (plural kánduru class 10)

kánduru (canonical class-5)
kánduru (canonical class-9)
makánduru (class-6 plural)
kánduru (class-10 plural)


chibhokisi

From English pox, perhaps conflated with bhokisi (“coffin”).


teburu

téburu (canonical class-9)
téburu (class-10 plural)


mwedzi

mwedzí (canonical class-3)
mwedzí (class-4 plural)


girazi

girázi class 5 (plural magirázi class 6)

girázi (canonical class-5)
magirázi (class-6 plural)

Either from English glass or Afrikaans glas.


tafura

táfura (canonical class-9)
táfura (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu itafula), from Afrikaans tafel.


muRungu

muRungu class 1 (plural vaRungu class 2)


muPutukezi

muPutukezi class 1 (plural vaPutukezi class 2)

muPutukézi class 1 (plural vaPutukézi class 2)

muPutukezi (canonical class-1)
muPutukézi (canonical class-1)
vaPutukezi (class-2 plural)
vaPutukézi (class-2 plural)


chiPutukezi

chiPutukezi (canonical class-7)
chiPutukézi (canonical class-7)


chiRungu

a European language; (in particular) English


gweta

gwetá (canonical class-5)
magwetá (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu igqwetha.


marasha

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu amalahle).


bhazi

bházi (canonical class-5)
mabházi (class-6 plural)


muhedheni

muhédheni class 1 (plural vahédheni class 2)

muhédheni (canonical class-1)
vahédheni (class-2 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Swazi umhedeni), from Afrikaans heiden.


chipoko

chipóko class 7 (plural zvipóko class 8)

chipóko (canonical class-7)
zvipóko (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Northern Ndebele isipoko), from Afrikaans spook.


mugodhi

mugodhí class 3 (plural migodhí class 4)

mugodhí (canonical class-3)
migodhí (class-4 plural)

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu umgodi.


chiwepu

chiwépu class 7 (plural zviwépu class 8)

chiwépu (canonical class-7)
zviwépu (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu isiswebhu), from Afrikaans sweep.


kepisi

képisi (canonical class-9)
képisi (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ikepisi), likely from English cap.


chingwa

chingwa class 7 (plural zvingwa class 8)

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu isinkwa.


chigwagwagwa

chigwagwagwa class 7 (plural zvigwagwagwa class 8)


muZezuru

muZezúru class 1 (plural vaZezúru class 2)

muZezúru (canonical class-1)
vaZezúru (class-2 plural)


muManyika

muManyíka class 1 (plural vaManyíka class 2)

muManyíka (canonical class-1)
vaManyíka (class-2 plural)


motokari

mótokari class 9 (plural mótokari class 10)

mótokari (canonical class-9)
mótokari (class-10 plural)

Likely from English motorcar, but compare Chichewa galimoto.


aini

áini (canonical class-9)
áini (class-10 plural)


kwereta

-kwérétá (canonical)
kukwérétá (infinitive)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu -kweleta), from Afrikaans skuld.


nyenyedzi

nyényedzí class 9 (plural nyényedzí class 10)

nyényedzí (canonical class-9)
nyényedzí (class-10 plural)


ziso

zísó (canonical class-5)
mazísó (class-6 plural)


chiroto

chirótó class 7 (plural zvirótó class 8)

chirótó (canonical class-7)
zvirótó (class-8 plural)


hosipitari

hósipiritari class 9 (plural hósipiritari class 10)

hósipiritari (canonical class-9)
hósipiritari (class-10 plural)


chipatara

chipatara class 7 (plural zvipatara class 8)

→ Chichewa: chipatala

From a Southern Bantu language (compare Tswana sepatêla), from English hospital.


chiraparapa

From a common Fanagalo expression, ultimately from Zulu lapha, lapha (“here, here”).


chipunu

chipúnu class 7 (plural zvipúnu class 8)

chipúnu (canonical class-7)
zvipúnu (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu isipunu), from English spoon.


chiBhunu

Borrowed from a Nguni language (compare Zulu isiBhunu), from Afrikaans Boer.


Bhunu

Bhunú (canonical class-5)
maBhunú (class-6 plural)

Borrowed from a Nguni language (compare Zulu iBhunu), from Afrikaans Boer.


mhuno

Cognate with Chichewa mphuno and Swahili pua.


itsvo

itsvó (canonical class-9)
itsvó (class-10 plural)


mufundi

mufúndí class 1 (plural vafúndí class 2)

mufúndí (canonical class-1)
vafúndí (class-2 plural)

Either from a Nguni language (compare Zulu umfundi) or by surface analysis, derived from -funda.


njanji

njanjí (canonical class-9)
njanjí (class-10 plural)

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu ujantshi.


mutyairi

mutyairi class 1 (plural vatyairi class 2)


dhiraivha

dhiráivha class 1a (plural vadhiráivha class 2)

dhiráivha (canonical class-1a)
vadhiráivha (class-2 plural)


hapwa

hapwá (canonical class-9)
hapwá (class-10 plural)


ngarava

ngaravá class 9 (plural ngaravá class 10)

ngaravá (canonical class-9)
ngaravá (class-10 plural)

Ultimately from Swahili galawa; compare Chichewa ngalawa.


chikepe

chiképé class 7 (plural zviképé class 8)

chiképe class 7 (plural zviképe class 8)

chiképé (canonical class-7)
chiképe (canonical class-7)
zviképé (class-8 plural)
zviképe (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Northern Ndebele isikepe), from Afrikaans skip.


tsvuku

-tsvukú (canonical)
mutsvukú (class-1 singular)
vatsvukú (class-2 plural)
mutsvukú (class-3 singular)
mitsvukú (class-4 plural)
dzvukú (class-5 singular)
matsvukú (class-6 plural)
chitsvukú (class-7 singular)
zvitsvukú (class-8 plural)
tsvukú (class-9 singular)
tsvukú (class-10 plural)
rutsvukú (class-11 singular)
katsvukú (class-12 singular)
tutsvukú (class-13 plural)
utsvukú (class-14 singular)
kutsvukú (class-15 singular)
patsvukú (class-15 class-16 singular)
kutsvukú (class-13 class-17 plural)
mutsvukú (class-18 plural)


shava

-shává (canonical)
mushává (class-1 singular)
vashává (class-2 plural)
mushává (class-3 singular)
mishává (class-4 plural)
shává (class-5 singular)
mashává (class-6 plural)
chishává (class-7 singular)
zvishává (class-8 plural)
shává (class-9 singular)
shává (class-10 plural)
rushává (class-11 singular)
kashává (class-12 singular)
tushává (class-13 plural)
ushává (class-14 singular)
kushává (class-15 singular)
pashává (class-15 class-16 singular)
kushává (class-13 class-17 plural)
mushává (class-18 plural)


nomwe

-nomwé (canonical)
vanomwé (class-2 plural-only)
minomwé (class-4 plural-only)
manomwé (class-6 plural-only)
zvinomwé (class-8 plural-only)
nomwé (class-10 plural-only)
tunomwé (class-13 plural-only)


pfumbamwe

-pfumbamwe (canonical)
vapfumbamwe (class-2 plural-only)
mipfumbamwe (class-4 plural-only)
mapfumbamwe (class-6 plural-only)
zvipfumbamwe (class-8 plural-only)
pfumbamwe (class-10 plural-only)
tupfumbamwe (class-13 plural-only)


tanhatu

-tánhatú (canonical)
vatánhatú (class-2 plural-only)
mitánhatú (class-4 plural-only)
matánhatú (class-6 plural-only)
zvitánhatú (class-8 plural-only)
nhánhatú (class-10 plural-only)
tutánhatú (class-13 plural-only)


chirebvu

chirebvu class 7 (plural zvirebvu class 8)


tenesi

ténesi (canonical class-9)
ténesi (class-10 plural)


dumbu

From Common Bantu *ìtʊ̀mbò (“belly, abdomen”). Cognate with Zulu ithumbu.


nzeve

nzevé (canonical class-9)
nzevé (class-10 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *njèbé, a variant of Proto-Bantu *ndèbé, derived from Proto-Bantu *-dèba (“be slack, be hanging”).


muRozvi

sn-noun

muRozví class 1 (plural vaRozví class 2)

muRozví (canonical class-1)
vaRozví (class-2 plural)

A member of the Rozvi tribe, the ruling class of the Rozvi Empire.


muboora

cooked pumpkin leaves (a dish similar to collard greens)


dzimba

dzimbá class 10 . (canonical)
imbá (singular)