The Human Body in Shona

The Human Body

Vocabulary

1. musoro – head
2. vudzi – hair
3. ziso/maziso/meso – eye(s)
4. nzeve – ear(s)
5. mhino – nose(s)
6. muromo/miromo – mouth(s)
7. rurimi – tongue
8. zino/mazino/meno – tooth/teeth
9. kumeso – face
10. ruoko/maoko – hand(s)/arm(s)
11. munwe/minwe – finger
12. nzara – nail
13. dumbu/matumbu – stomach(s)
14. gumbo/makumbo – leg(s)
15. ibvi/mabvi – knee(s)
16. chigunwe/zvigunwe – toe(s)

Scenario: At the Doctor’s with a swollen foot

Vocabulary used

chiremba – doctor

mukoti – nurse

chipatara – hospital

murwere – patient

zvimba – swell

akawira pasi – fell

kurwara – be sick

kubva rinhi – since when

kurwadziwa – ache

Dialogue

Murwere: Mhoroi. (Hello (respect))

Chiremba: Ndiripo.  Mauya. Chii chinokuendesa kuchipatara? (I am well. Welcome. What brings you to the hospital?)

Murwere: Ndakawira pasi. Tsoka yangu yazvimba. (I fell down. My foot is swollen)

Chiremba: Chero kurwadziwa? (Any pain?)

Murwere: Kurwadziwa kwakawanda. (Lots of pain)

Chiremba: Kubva rinhi? (Since when?)

Murwere: Kubva nezuro. (Since yesterday)

Chiremba: Tinoda x-ray. (We will need an x-ray.)

Murwere: Waita basa. Ndichaendepi? (Thank you. Where will I go?)

Chiremba: Mukoti achakuratidzai. (The nurse will show you.)

Grammar notes:

Interrogatives

1. sei? – how? (Akauya sei? How did he/she come?)
2. chii? – what? (Ichi chii? What is this?)
3. ani? – who? (Zita rako ndiani? What is your name?)
4. nei? – why? (wadonha nei? Why did you fall?)
5. kupi? – where? (Unogara kupi? Where do you live?)