China

From -china (“fourth”), counting the days of the working week from Monday.

days of the week: mazuva evhiki: Svondo · Muvhuro · Chipiri · Chitatu · China · Chishanu · Mugovera


simba

simbá (canonical class-5)
masimbá (class-6 plural)


simba

simba (class-10 plural)
tsimba (alternative)

From Proto-Bantu *ncímbá. The irregular development of the tones suggests that it may be a borrowing from another Bantu language.


hanzi

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

From Afrikaans gans; compare Zulu ihansi.


baba

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


kamu

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


toki

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


hope

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


gore

goré (canonical class-5)
makoré (class-6 plural)

Borrowed from a Khoe language; compare Khoekhoe kurib.


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)


svo

svó (canonical class-9)
svó (class-10 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


onde

ondé (canonical class-5)
maondé (class-6 plural)


fofo

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

(especially Manyika) match (device to make fire)


hanga

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


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)


hana

Uyu haana hana.

Kana ndichitya Hana yangu inorovesa.

When I am afraid, my heart beats strongly.

Ndinoziva Mwari mumoyo, mupfungwa, mumweya uye muhana yangu.

I know God in my heart, mind, spirit and in my soul; inner-heart.


guyu

gúyu (canonical class-5)
makúyu (class-6 plural)


sondo

sondo (canonical class-9)
sondo (canonical class-5)
sondo (class-10 plural)
masondo (class-6 plural)


ruoko

ruókó (canonical class-11)
maókó (class-6 plural)
muoko (alternative Manyika)


zai

zái (canonical class-5)
mazái (class-6 plural)


chuma

A wanderwort ultimately from Swahili chuma (“iron”).


mbwa

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


huku

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

From *nkʊ́kʊ́, a variant of Common Bantu *nkókó.


sadza

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


mbira

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


hure

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


zino

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


chitina

chitína class 7 (plural zvitína class 8)

chitína (canonical class-7)
zvitína (class-8 plural)


nyoka

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


ndimu

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

Borrowed from Swahili ndimu (“lemon or lime”), from Persian لیمو (limu).


nyundo

A widely diffused word ultimately from Swahili nyundo.


windo

wíndo (canonical class-5)
mawíndo (class-6 plural)


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.


ingwe

ingwe (class-10 plural)
ngwe (alternative Karanga)


imbwa

imbwá (canonical class-9)
imbwá (class-10 plural)
mbwa (alternative Karanga)
ingwa (alternative)


jazi

jázi (canonical class-5)
majázi (class-6 plural)


bundo

→ English: bundu


rize

rizé (canonical class-5)
marizé (class-6 plural)


pungwe

pungwé class 5 (plural mapungwé class 6)

pungwé (canonical class-5)
mapungwé (class-6 plural)

pungwe (all-night political vigil or rally)


nondo

nondo (class-10 plural)
nhondo (alternative)

Damaliscus lunatus
Wikispecies:Damaliscus lunatus

tsessebe (an antelope, Damaliscus lunatus)


imba

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


gazi

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu igazi.


bundu

búndú (canonical class-5)
mapúndú (class-6 plural)


nyati

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

buffalo (Old World savannah-dwelling bovid)


hachi

háchi (canonical class-5)
maháchi (class-6 plural)

→ Chichewa: hatchi

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ihhashi), from a Khoe language (compare Khoekhoe has).


nyuchi

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


shwa

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


chimurenga

chimurenga class 7 (plural zvimurenga class 8)

rebellion, revolution; (in particular) a war fought against European colonists


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)


Chipiri

From -chipiri (“second”), counting the days of the working week from Monday.


Chitatu

From -chitatu (“third”), counting the days of the working week from Monday.


Chishanu

From -chishanu (“fifth”), counting the days of the working week from Monday.


svondo

svondo class 5 (plural masvondo class 6)

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

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.


fodya

Borrowed from Portuguese folha (“leaf”).


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”).


mbiya

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


mvuu

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


nzungu

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

An irregular derivation of Proto-Bantu *njʊ̀gʊ́.


fupa

fúpá (canonical class-5)
mafúpá (class-6 plural)


nzou

nzou (class-10 plural)
zhou (alternative Karanga)


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”).


batya

An irregular derivation from Proto-Bantu *ìpácà.


jasi

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

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


ishwa

ishwá (canonical class-9)
ishwá (class-10 plural)
shwa (alternative Karanga)


ibwe

mabwe (class-6 plural)
bwe (alternative Karanga)


simbi

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


nguruve

nguruve class 9 (plural nguruve class 10)


nzara

nzara (class-10 plural)
zhara (alternative Karanga)


mbudzi

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


dhuku

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


magetsi

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


rukodzi

rukódzi (canonical class-11)
godzi (alternative)


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)


muromo

Muromo haupi / Chinopa maoko / Usanyepa / Kunyepa

2018, “Munyepi”, in Dividing The Element, performed by Dividing The Element, Track 8:


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)


mhumhi

mhumhí (canonical class-9)
mhumhí (class-10 plural)
bumhi (alternative)

Lycaon pictus
Lycaon pictus#Translingual


mukomana

mukómaná class 1 (plural vakómaná class 2)

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


musikana

musíkaná class 1 (plural vasíkaná class 2)

musíkaná (canonical class-1)
vasíkaná (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.


Chitanhatu

From -chitanhatu (“sixth”), counting the days of the working week from Monday.


Svondo

The same word as svondo (“week”); see there for more.


vhiki

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

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


ingwa

ingwá (canonical class-9)
ingwá (class-10 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.


bvupa

bvúpá (canonical class-5)
mapfúpá (class-6 plural)
fupa (alternative Karanga)


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.


hembe

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


zanda

zandá (canonical class-5)
mazandá (class-6 plural)

Cognate with Zulu iqanda and Tsonga tandza.


mutumba

mutumba class 3 (plural mitumba class 4)


mupunga

mupunga class 3 (plural mipunga class 4)


remoni

rémoni class 5 (plural marémoni class 6)

rémoni (canonical class-5)
marémoni (class-6 plural)


mundimu

mundímu class 3 (plural mindímu class 4)

mundímu (canonical class-3)
mindímu (class-4 plural)


shumba

shúmba (canonical class-9)
shúmba (class-10 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.


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)


garafa

garáfa class 5 (plural magaráfa class 6)

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


bhotoro

bhótoro class 5 (plural mabhótoro class 6)

bhótoro (canonical class-5)
mabhótoro (class-6 plural)
bhodhoro (alternative)
bhodyera (alternative)


bhodhoro

bhódhoro class 5 (plural mabhódoro class 6)

bhódhoro (canonical class-5)
mabhódoro (class-6 plural)


bhodyera

bhódyera class 5 (plural mabhódyera class 6)

bhódyera (canonical class-5)
mabhódyera (class-6 plural)


chitoro

chitóro class 7 (plural zvitóro class 8)

chitóro (canonical class-7)
zvitóro (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Southern Ndebele isitolo), from English store.


amburera

amburéra class 5 (plural maamburéra class 6)

amburéra (canonical class-5)
maamburéra (class-6 plural)


sumburera

sumburéra class 5 (plural masumburéra class 6)

sumburéra (canonical class-5)
masumburéra (class-6 plural)


twana

twána (canonical class-9)
twána (class-10 plural)
hwana (alternative Karanga)


bakayau

bakayáu class 5 (plural mabakayáu class 6)

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


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.


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)
bhatye (alternative)

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


bhatye

bhátye class 5 (plural mabhátye class 6)

bhátye (canonical class-5)
mabhátye (class-6 plural)


aini

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


rokwe

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

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


dhirezi

dhirézi class 5 (plural madhirézi class 6)

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


zuva

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


bhurukwa

bhurúkwa class 5 (plural mabhurúkwa class 6)

bhurúkwa (canonical class-5)
mabhurúkwa (class-6 plural)
bhurukwe (alternative)
bhurugwa (alternative)

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


bhurukwe

bhurúkwe class 5 (plural mabhurúkwe class 6)

bhurúkwe (canonical class-5)
mabhurúkwe (class-6 plural)


bhurugwa

bhurúgwa class 5 (plural mabhurúgwa class 6)

bhurúgwa (canonical class-5)
mabhurúgwa (class-6 plural)


bhikiri

bhíkirí class 5 (plural mabhíkirí class 6)

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


dapiri

dápiri class 5 (plural matápiri class 6)

dápiri (canonical class-5)
matápiri (class-6 plural)


mbatatisi

mbatátisi class 9 (plural mbatátisi class 10)

mbatátisi (canonical class-9)
mbatátisi (class-10 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.


garikuni

garikúní class 5 (plural makarikúní class 6)

garikúní (canonical class-5)
makarikúní (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ikalikuni), from Afrikaans kalkoen.


chidhina

chidhína class 7 (plural zvidhína class 8)

chidhína (canonical class-7)
zvidhína (class-8 plural)
chitina (alternative)

From a Nguni language (compare Southern Ndebele isitina), from Afrikaans steen (“stone”).


fafitera

fáfitera class 5 (plural mafáfitera class 6)

fáfitera (canonical class-5)
mafáfitera (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ifasitela), from Afrikaans venster.


chikei

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


jon'osi

jón'osi class 5 (plural majón'osi class 6)

jón'osi (canonical class-5)
majón'osi (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ijongosi), from Afrikaans jongos.

ox, (especially) a young or untrained one


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.


domasi

domási class 5 (plural madomási class 6)

domási (canonical class-5)
madomási (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Southern Ndebele itamatisi), from Afrikaans tamaties.


hukwana

húkwáná class 9 (plural húkwáná class 10)

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


bhandi

bhándi class 5 (plural mabhándi class 6)

bhándi (canonical class-5)
mabhándi (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu ibhandi), from Afrikaans band.


konobho

kónóbho class 9 (plural kónóbho class 10)

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


chechi

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


kirike

kiríke class 5 (plural makiríke class 6)

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


siraha

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


bhucha

bhúcha class 5 (plural mabhúcha class 6)

bhúcha (canonical class-5)
mabhúcha (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)
chitúro (alternative)

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


chituro

chitúro class 7 (plural zvitúro class 8)

chitúro (canonical class-7)
zvitúro (class-8 plural)


koroni

koroni (canonical class-9)
kóroni (canonical class-9)


chepfu

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


dhongi

dhongí class 5 (plural madhongí class 6)

dhongí (canonical class-5)
madhongí (class-6 plural)

From English donkey, likely by way of Afrikaans donkie.


chamboko

chambóko class 7 (plural zvambóko class 8)

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


taundi

táundi class 5 (plural matáundi class 6)

táundi (canonical class-5)
matáundi (class-6 plural)


dhorobha

dhoróbha class 5 (plural madhoróbha class 6)

dhoróbha (canonical class-5)
madhoróbha (class-6 plural)


chipikiri

chipíkírí class 7 (plural zvipíkírí class 8)

chipíkírí (canonical class-7)
zvipíkírí (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language, from Afrikaans spyker.


nachisi

náchisi class 5 (plural manáchisi class 6)

náchisi (canonical class-5)
manáchisi (class-6 plural)


chiponji

chipónji class 7 (plural zvipónji class 8)

chipónji (canonical class-7)
zvipónji (class-8 plural)
chipanji (alternative)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu isiponji), from English sponge.


chipanji

chipánji class 7 (plural zvipánji class 8)

chipánji (canonical class-7)
zvipánji (class-8 plural)


chishambo

chishambo class 7 (plural zvishambo class 8)

(Korekore, Zezuru) sponge (animal and cleaning tool)


chibhokisi

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


tafura

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

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


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.


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)


muRungu

muRungu class 1 (plural vaRungu class 2)


chiRungu

a European language; (in particular) English


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.


nanazi

nánazí class 5 (plural manánazí class 6)

nánazí (canonical class-5)
manánazí (class-6 plural)
chinanazi (alternative)


chinanazi

chinánazí class 7 (plural zvinánazí class 8)

chinánazí (canonical class-7)
zvinánazí (class-8 plural)


bhaudhi

bháudhi class 5 (plural mabháudhi class 6)

bháudhi (canonical class-5)
mabháudhi (class-6 plural)


sipo

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu insipho), from Afrikaans seep.


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.


chigwagwagwa

chigwagwagwa class 7 (plural zvigwagwagwa class 8)


vhiri

vhíri (canonical class-5)
mavhíri (class-6 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Xhosa ivili), from Afrikaans wiel.


kepisi

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

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


bhazi

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


gweta

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

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu igqwetha.


dhongana

dhongáná class 5 (plural madhongáná class 6)

dhongáná (canonical class-5)
madhongáná (class-6 plural)


imbwanana

imbwánaná class 9 (plural imbwánaná class 10)

imbwánaná (canonical class-9)
imbwánaná (class-10 plural)
mbwanana (alternative Karanga)


mbwanana

mbwánaná class 9 (plural mbwánaná class 10)

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


ngurwana

ngúrwaná class 9 (plural ngúrwaná class 10)

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


mbudzana

mbúdzaná class 9 (plural mbúdzaná class 10)

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


chingwa

chingwa class 7 (plural zvingwa class 8)

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu isinkwa.


marasha

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu amalahle).


gwavha

gwávha class 5 (plural magwávha class 6)

gwávha (canonical class-5)
magwávha (class-6 plural)


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.


mugodhi

mugodhí class 3 (plural migodhí class 4)

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

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu umgodi.


muoko

muókó (canonical class-3)
miókó (class-4 plural)


chitokisi

chitókisi class 7 (plural zvitókisi class 8)

chitókisi (canonical class-7)
zvitókisi (class-8 plural)

From a Nguni language (compare Zulu isitokisi), from English stocks.


motokari

mótokari class 9 (plural mótokari class 10)

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

Likely from English motorcar, but compare Chichewa galimoto.


gwaimani

gwáimani class 9 (plural magwáimani class 10)

gwáimani (canonical class-9)
magwáimani (class-10 plural)

Supposedly from Afrikaans kwaai man (“angry man”).


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)


nyeredzi

nyéredzí class 9 (plural nyéredzí class 10)

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


nyenyedzi

nyényedzí class 9 (plural nyényedzí class 10)

nyényedzí (canonical class-9)
nyényedzí (class-10 plural)
nyeredzi (alternative Karanga Manyika)

Cognate with Chichewa nyényezí (“star”).


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)


hozhwa

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


chipatara

chipatara class 7 (plural zvipatara class 8)

→ Chichewa: chipatala

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


hosipitari

hósipiritari class 9 (plural hósipiritari class 10)

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


bhuku

bhúku (canonical class-5)
mabhúku (class-6 plural)


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.


dhaka

→ English: dagga


chiraparapa

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


mombe

mombe (class-10 plural)
n'ombe (alternative Karanga Manyika)


mhou

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


garwe

gárwe (canonical class-5)
makárwe (class-6 plural)


goko

gókó (canonical class-5)
makókó (class-6 plural)

Perhaps from the same root as Rwanda-Rundi igikoko (“wild animal”).


musasa

musasá (canonical class-3)
misasá (class-4 plural)


Bhunu

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

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


chiBhunu

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


mhuno

mhuno (class-10 plural)
mhino (alternative Karanga Manyika)

Cognate with Chichewa mphuno and Swahili pua.


mhowani

mhowani class 9 (plural mhowani class 10)


nhoro

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


itsvo

itsvó (canonical class-9)
itsvó (class-10 plural)
tsvo (alternative Karanga Manyika)
svo (alternative Karanga)


tsvo

tsvó (canonical class-9)
tsvó (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.


bhiza

bhizá (canonical class-5)
mabhizá (class-6 plural)


njanji

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

From a Nguni language; compare Zulu ujantshi.


mutyairi

mutyairi class 1 (plural vatyairi class 2)

vatyairi (class-2 plural)
muchairi (alternative)


muchairi

muchairi class 1 (plural vachairi 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)


chidhakwa

chidhakwá class 7 (plural zvidhakwá class 8)

chidhakwá (canonical class-7)
zvidhakwá (class-8 plural)


mhene

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

From a root originally meaning "goat"; compare Rwanda-Rundi ihene/impene.


hwai

hwai (class-10 plural)
gwai (alternative Karanga Manyika)

Uncertain, but potentially from a Khoe language (compare Khoekhoe gū-i). Other Bantu languages borrowed this in the form *-gu, for example Sotho nku and Zulu imvu.


mukadzi

mukádzí class 1 (plural vakádzí class 2)

mukádzí (canonical class-1)
vakádzí (class-2 plural)


chigaro

chigaro class 7 (plural zvigaro class 8)


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.


ngarava

ngaravá class 9 (plural ngaravá class 10)

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

Ultimately from Swahili galawa; compare Chichewa ngalawa.


igwa

magwa (class-6 plural)
gwa (alternative Karanga)


mukuyu

mukúyu (canonical class-3)
mikúyu (class-4 plural)


muonde

muondé (canonical class-3)
miondé (class-4 plural)


ngamera

ngaméra class 9 (plural ngaméra class 10)

ngaméra (canonical class-9)
ngaméra (class-10 plural)
gamera (alternative)

An old borrowing, ultimately from Swahili ngamia, from Arabic جَمَل (jamal). Compare Chichewa ngamira.


gamera

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


chiuru

zviuru (class-8 plural)
churu (alternative)


nguva

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


vusiku

night (in two Shona languages, Karanga and Ndau language).


muhacha

muhacha class 3 (plural mihacha class 4)


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.


dumbu

dúmbú (canonical class-5)
matúmbú (class-6 plural)


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.


nhanga

nhanga class 9 (plural manhanga class 6)


muboora

cooked pumpkin leaves (a dish similar to collard greens)


firimu

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


bhaiskopu

bháiskopu class 5 (plural mabháiskopu class 6)

bháiskopu (canonical class-5)
mabháiskopu (class-6 plural)


dzimba

dzimbá class 10 . (canonical)
imbá (singular)


gonoriya

Uye utachiona hunokonzera gonoriya hungakonzera kuzvimba kwechiropa.

2000, anonymous author, “Chengeta Mirayiro Yangu, Urarame”:

And the organism responsible for gonorrhea can cause inflammation of the liver.