Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Colors
On this page we will go through the colours as acknowledged in the Shona language.
In Shona colours are seen in four different categories, mavara matema (dark colours i.e. blue, black), mavara matsvuku (warm colours i.e. red, orange), mavara machena (white colours i.e. white, yellow etc.) and mavara tsvuku again (bright colours i.e. purple, pink)
Basic Colours[edit | edit source]
Let's begin with the basic and most commonly used colours first.
English | Shona |
---|---|
Blue | Ungu |
Red | Tsvuku |
Orange | Ranjisi / Raranji |
Yellow | Huroro |
Brown | Mbise / Svundu |
Green | Zerere |
White | Chena |
Pink | Kiwani |
Purple | Hute / (Khute, Ẋute) |
Black | Tema |
Grey | Pfumbu |
Detailed List of Colours and Shades[edit | edit source]
Shona | English | Etymology |
---|---|---|
Ungu | Blue | |
Ungwana | Light blue | -na is from Chena, unguchena; baby blue or young blue |
Fifu | Grey-blue | |
Dhimba | Dark blue / Deep sea blue | |
Rindigo / Ndyigo | Indigo | from indigo |
Safira / Safiri | Sapphire blue | |
Getsiungu | Electric blue | |
Zerere | Green | |
Zererena | Light green | |
Pfumvudza | fern / muddy green | |
Puwa | Chartreuse, yellow-green | |
Huroro (or Hẋuroro / Ẋuroro) | Yellow | The hẋ- / ẋ- are pronounced similar to Scottish -ch in loch. |
Ndarama / Goridhe | Gold | |
Ruraza | Pale yellow | |
Raranjiro | Amber | |
Rushare | Flaxen / Blonde yellow | |
Mbise | Brown | |
Mbisana | Light brown | |
Svundu | Rufous brown | |
Tsvichiri | Mahoganny; red-brown | as the tree's name |
Ndarira | Bronze | |
Vunde | Tan | like sorghum, bvunde |
Mdhaka | Beige | |
Khakhi | Kaki | |
Ranjisi / raranji | Orange | |
Tsvuku | Red | |
Vomvu | Scarlet | |
Shava / Java | Maroon | |
Rhanje | Vermillion | |
Mbiringa | Wine red | |
Sheri | Cherry | |
Kiwani | Pink | as in chuma chekiwani meaning rose or pink colour beads |
Hute (or Hẋute / Ẋute) | Purple | as per the fruit
The hẋ-, ẋ- are pronounced similar to Scottish -ch in loch. |
Gatawa | Lilac | as per the bird, the lilac-breasted bird |
Tangeni | Violet | as per the violet tree Pfuvana, Mufufu, Mutangeni |
Farata / Fandemengwe | Lavender | Mufarata, Mufandemengwe |
Punje | Amethyst | as per the tree Mupunje, Mujumbe or Mushari |
Pfumbu / Pfupfu | Grey | |
Pfupfuma | Dark-grey | |
Darejena | Silver | |
Chena | White | |
Jenero | Cream |
Colours and Meanings[edit | edit source]
We know there are certain colours that are associated with certain things, although this is not a largely practiced phenomenon in Shona culture there are certain colours that are associated with certain things.
- Chena (white) - the colour white is associated with cleanliness, spirituality, peace and tranquillity.
- It is used as Kuchena meaning to look good, clean or well put together.
- It is worn by Apostles for their church attendances, therefore it is a colour of spirituality, additionally ghosts are also viewed as white so it is associated with the otherworldly and death.
- Kucheneruka which means to turn white (negatively) as in to get dirty, this is because on dark skin if one's skin is white it is dirty, such as kuvaneshena.
- It is also found on the Zimbabwean flag as a sign of peacefulness.
- It is largely a colour of the seen and unseen, the far and near, duality. The moon in the sky, the spirit, peace, etcetera.
- Tema (black, dark) - is the colour strength, pride and identity
- It references the Dark skinned people of Africa and the Shona themselves, this colour refers to a shade as well not just black in the literal sense.
- It is also found on the Zimbabwean flag as a colour representing solidness and identity.
- Zerere (green) - is the colour of nature, fertility and the physical world.
- It is also found on the Zimbabwean flag as a symbol of the country's nature and wildlife.
- It is a colour of life, natural life.
- Tsvuku (red) - is the colour of blood, caution, negativity, death, conquering
- It too is found on the Zimbabwean flag as a symbol of remembrance for the blood spelt by the heroes and civilians of the Zimbabwean nation during the wars and liberation Mwperiods.
- Huroro (yellow) - is the colour riches, wealth and vitality.
- It is found on the Zimbabwean flag symbolising the wealth of the country, its golds, diamonds, peoples and etcetera.
- It is a symbol of the sun, and is therefore a sign of vitality.
- Ungu (blue) - is a colour of balance directly in coalition with green.
- Symbolising the seas, waters, rains and etcetera it is a complement of the colour green of nature.
- You can find that in other Bantu languages the colours green and blue have similar names so the beliefs may be similar.
- Mbise (brown) - it is a colour of the solid earth, the ground, stability.
- It is like green and blue although secondary.
Practice[edit | edit source]
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Kufarira (to like; liking)
Kusafarira (to dislike)
Handi- (I do not...)
Muvara, Ruvara (colour)
Mivara, Mavara (colours)
Sentences[edit | edit source]
Muvara waunofarira ndeupi? (Which colour do you like?)
Ndinofarira ungu. (I like blue.)
Pane muvara wausingafarire here? (Is there a colour you do not like?)
Handifarire muvara wekiwani. (I do not like pink).
Ndirikutsvaga Maria, akapfeka hembe dzehuroro. (I am looking for Maria, she is wearing yellow clothes.)
Uyo, ari apo uyo, padhuze nemukomana akapfeka zvitsvuku. (There she is, near the boy wearing red.)
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Fruits
- Food
- Languages
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Clothes
- Emergency
- Drinks
- Feelings and Emotions
- Education