Shona
ISO 639-3: sna
Most widely spoken language in Zimbabwe
Language Details
| Family Lineage | Niger-Congo › Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Bantoid › Southern Bantoid › Bantu › Central Bantu |
| Countries | Zimbabwe, Mozambique |
| Approximate Speakers | ~12,000,000 |
| Notes | Includes Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, and Manyika dialects |
Hebrew Comparisons
| Word | Meaning | Hebrew Word | Transliteration | Hebrew Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ngano | calabash bowl | אַגָּן | ʼaggân | probably from נָגַן; a bowl (as pounded out hollow); basin, cup, goblet. |
| gara | to live, stay, sit, remain | אָהַל | ʼâhal | a denominative from אֹהֶל; to tent; pitch (remove) a tent. |
| -zwa | to hear, feel | אָזַן | ʼâzan | a primitive root; probably to expand; but used only as a denominative from אֹזֶן; to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen; give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See אָזַן. |
| kudya | to eat | אָכַל | ʼâkal | a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. |
| midzimu | ancestral spirits | אֱלֹהִים | ʼĕlôhîym | plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. |
| ini | I, me (independent pronoun) | אֲנִי | ʼănîy | lemma אֲנַי second vowel, corrected to אֲנִי; contracted from אָנֹכִי; I; I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. |
| kubora | to rot, decay | בָּלַהּ | bâlahh | a primitive root (rather by transposition for בָּהַל); to palpitate; hence, (causatively) to terrify; trouble. |
| mwana | child, son, daughter, offspring | בֵּן | bên | (Aramaic) corresponding to בֵּן; {a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense}; child, son, young. |
| tsvaga | seek (different root dominant) | בְּעָא | bᵉʻâʼ | (Aramaic) or בְּעָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to בָּעָה; to seek or ask; ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, seek. |
| kubuda | to come out, appear (likely related to daybreak, morning, sun coming out | בֹּקֶר | bôqer | from בָּקַר; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning; ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow. |
| sarura | to choose, select | בָּרַר | bârar | a primitive root; to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine, select; make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse (be clean), clearly, polished, (shew self) pure(-ify), purge (out). |
| bata | to damage, spoil, destroy | בַּתָּה | battâh | feminine from an unused root (meaning to break in pieces); desolation; desolate. |
| bata | to destroy, ruin, damage | בָּתָה | bâthâh | probably an orthographical variation for בַּתָּה; desolation; waste. |
| mugodi | pit, mine (pit) | גֵּב | gêb | from גּוּב; a log (as cut out); also well or cistern (as dug); beam, ditch, pit. |
| gomo | mountain, height | גָּבַהּ | gâbahh | a primitive root; to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty; exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward. |
| fa | die | גָּוַע | gâvaʻ | a primitive root; to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire; die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish. |
| gunda | shave (the head); to cut closely (hair) | גָּזָה | gâzâh | a primitive root (akin to גּוּז); to cut off, i.e. portion out; take. |
| gazi | stump fragment | גֶּזַע | gezaʻ | from an unused root meaning to cut down (trees); the trunk or stump of atree (as felled or as planted); stem, stock. |
| ganda | skin, hide | גֶּלֶד | geled | from an unused root probably meaning to polish; the (human) skin (as smooth); skin. |
| guru | big, great | גְּלָל | gᵉlâl | (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to גָּלַל; weight or size (as if rolled); great. |
| kwaruza | to scrape, to scratch (esp. as with fingernails or in vigorous washing) | גָּרָב | gârâb | from an unused root meaning to scratch; scurf (from itching); scab, scurvy. |
| ukuru | greatness, prominence; seniority | גָּרֹל | gârôl | from the same as גּוֹרָל; harsh; man of great (as in the margin which reads גָּדוֹל). |
| mukuru | elder, chief, grandfather | גָּרֹל | gârôl | from the same as גּוֹרָל; harsh; man of great (as in the margin which reads גָּדוֹל). |
| kusaga | to grind | גָּרַס | gâraç | a primitive root; to crush; also (intransitively and figuratively) to dissolve; break. |
| garira | to reduce for oneself, allocate a smaller share | גָּרַע | gâraʻ | a primitive root; to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold; abate, clip, (di-) minish, do (take) away, keep back, restrain, make small, withdraw. |
| demba | to become lean, thin; to waste away (due to grief or trouble) | דָּאַב | dâʼab | a primitive root; to pine; mourn, sorrow(-ful). |
| nyaya | matter, issue, story, news, case, conversation topic | דָּבָר | Davar | from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. |
| uchi | honey | דְּבַשׁ | dᵉbash | from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup; honey(-comb). |
| dova | moisture/dewdrop (also slang for menstruation, especially first menses; sometimes 'blood') | דָּוֶה | dâveh | from דָּוָה; sick (especially in menstruation); faint, menstruous cloth, she that is sick, having sickness. |
| kubwaka | to burn, to be on fire | דָּלַק | dâlaq | a primitive root; to flame (literally or figuratively); burning, chase, inflame, kindle, persecute(-or), pursue hotly. |
| fanana | to resemble, to look alike | דְּמָה | dᵉmâh | (Aramaic) corresponding to דָּמָה; to resemble; be like. |
| kufanana | to resemble, be like, look alike | דָּמָה | dâmâh | a primitive root; to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider; compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think, use similitudes. |
| -saga | to grind (grain/corn) | דְּקַק | dᵉqaq | (Aramaic) corresponding to דָּקַק; to crumble or (trans.) crush; break to pieces. |
| hede! | cheer | הֵד | hêd | for הֵידָד; a shout; sounding again. |
| bva | to become, to turn into, to arise, to depart (also as copula 'to be') | הָוָא | hâvâʼ | (Aramaic) or הָוָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to הָוָא; to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words); be, become, [phrase] behold, [phrase] came (to pass), [phrase] cease, [phrase] cleave, [phrase] consider, [phrase] do, [phrase] give, [phrase] have, [phrase] judge, [phrase] keep, [phrase] labour, [phrase] mingle (self), [phrase] put, [phrase] see, [phrase] seek, [phrase] set, [phrase] slay, [phrase] take heed, tremble, [phrase] walk, [phrase] would. |
| hama | to groan, make a murmuring sound; sometimes used for the noise of cattle or wind, rarely for uproar. | הָמָה | hâmâh | a primitive root (compare הוּם); to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor; clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar. |
| ona | to see; used as interjection 'see!','look!' | הִנֵּה | hinnêh | prolongation for הֵן; lo!; behold, lo, see. |
| sunga | to tie, bind, fasten | זוּר | zûwr | a primitive root (compare צוֹק); to press together, tighten; close, rush, thrust together. |
| zera | edge, border (also 'generation' in other contexts, but with semantic extension to rim or perimeter in some uses) | זֵר | zêr | from זָרַר (in the sense of scattering); a chaplet (as spread around the top), i.e. (specifically) a border moulding; crown. |
| mwedzi | moon; month | חֹדֶשׁ | chôdesh | from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon. |
| zura | to bundle, twist, gather (by twisting or wrapping) | חוּל | chûwl | or חִיל; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert; bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded. |
| chena | white; bright | חוּר | chûwr | from חָוַר; white linen; white. |
| gura | to be sick, waste away (by illness) | חָלָא | châlâʼ | a primitive root (compare חָלָה); to be sick; be diseased. |
| raka | strip of cloth, loincloth, headband | חַלֻּק | challuq | from חָלַק; smooth; smooth. |
| gova | to apportion, to share, divide | חָלַק | châlaq | a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate; deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-) part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er). |
| kosa | to err, to commit an error | חַלָּשׁ | challâsh | from חָלַשׁ; frail; weak. |
| imba | house, home, enclosure | חֻפָּה | chuppâh | from חָפָה; a canopy; chamber, closet, defence. |
| usiku | night; darkness | חֹשֶׁךְ | chôshek | from חָשַׁךְ; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness; dark(-ness), night, obscurity. |
| bata | to catch, grasp, seize, hold | חָתַף | châthaph | a primitive root; to clutch; take away. |
| saga | to grind, to mill | טָחַן | ṭâchan | a primitive root; to grind meal; hence, to be aconcubine (that being their employment); grind(-er). |
| tamiswa | made sweet, sweetened | טְעַם | ṭᵉʻam | (Aramaic) corresponding to טָעַם; to taste; causatively to feed; make to eat, feed. |
| upamhi | width, breadth | טֹפַח | ṭôphach | from טָפַח (the same as טֵפַח); {a spread of the hand, i.e. a palm-breadth (not 'span' of the fingers); architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm)}; hand-breadth (broad). |
| kububira | to moan, wail, cry out (from distress or pain) | יָבַב | yâbab | a primitive root; to bawl; cry out. |
| aseka | (implied “laughter”) | יִצְחָק | Isaac | from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק. |
| kamba | rope | כֶּבֶל | kebel | from an unused root meaning to twine or braid together; a fetter; fetter. |
| kukura | to grow up; to become big or mature | כֶּלַח | kelach | from an unused root meaning to be complete; maturity; full (old) age. |
| kura | to grow, to mature | כָּלַל | kâlal | a primitive root; to complete; (make) perfect. |
| kuviga | to hide, to bury | כָּמַס | kâmaç | a primitive root; to store away, i.e. (figuratively) in the memory; lay up in store. |
| -ramba | refuse (different root but similar semantic space) | כָּנַף | kânaph | a primitive root; properly, to project laterally, i.e. probably (reflexive) to withdraw; be removed. |
| -kata | to cut sharply, sever | כָּרַת | kârath | a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. |
| kunaka | to be tired, to become weary | לָאָה | lâʼâh | a primitive root; to tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgusted; faint, grieve, lothe, (be, make) weary (selves). |
| kumika | to support, to reinforce, to fix in position | סָמַךְ | çâmak | a primitive root; to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense); bear up, establish, (up-) hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain. |
| kw-ira | to climb, go up, ascend | עָלָה | ʻâlâh | a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. |
| -mira | to stand, to stop, to remain standing | עָמַד | ʻâmad | a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. |
| phunyuka | to escape, elude, or get away | פֶּסַח | peçach | from פָּסַח; a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim); passover (offering). |
| kuseka | laugh | צָחַק | tsâchaq | a primitive root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport; laugh, mock, play, make sport. |
| nyoka | snake, serpent | צֶפַע | tsephaʻ | from an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing); adder, cockatrice. |
| kumira | to stand, be upright, to stand up | קוּם | Qum | a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising). |
| dzura | tear | קָרַע | qâraʻ | a primitive root; to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them); cut out, rend, [idiom] surely, tear. |
| Shavi | captured by a spirit | שְׁבִי | shevi / shavah | from שְׁבוּ; exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty; captive(-ity), prisoners, [idiom] take away, that was taken. |
| seka | laugh | שָׂחַק | a primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play; deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport. | |
| zorora | to rest, to be at leisure, to relax, be at ease | שַׁלְוָה | shalvâh | from שָׁלָה; security (genuine or false); abundance, peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness. |
| kusimuka | to be happy, to rejoice | שִׂמְחָה | simchâh | from שָׂמֵחַ; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival); [idiom] exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing). |
| kakatika | become hard/firm | שָׂקַד | sâqad | a primitive root; to fasten; bind. |
| pinduka | turn around | תְּשׁוּבָה | tᵉshûwbâh | or תְּשֻׁבָה; from שׁוּב; a recurrence (of time or place); a reply (as returned); answer, be expired, return. |