Difference between revisions of "Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Colors"

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{{Shona-Page-Top}}
On this page we will go through the colours as acknowledged in the Shona language.  
On this page we will go through the colours as acknowledged in the Shona language.  


== Colours in Shona ==
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)
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)


=== List of colours ===
== Basic Colours ==
 
==== Basic Colours ====
Let's begin with the basic and most commonly used colours first.
Let's begin with the basic and most commonly used colours first.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!English
! colspan="2" |
!Shona
|-
|-
|Blue
|Blue
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|-
|-
|Purple
|Purple
|Hute / Vute
|Hute / (Khute, Ẋute)
|-
|-
|Black
|Black
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|}
|}


==== Detailed List of Colours and Shades ====
== Detailed List of Colours and Shades ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Shona
!Colour name
!English
!Translation in English
!Etymology
!Etymology
|-
|-
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|
|
|-
|-
|Ndyigo
|Rindigo / Ndyigo
|Indigo
|Indigo
|from indigo
|from indigo
|-
|-
|Safira
|Safira / Safiri
|Sapphire blue
|Sapphire blue
|
|
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|
|
|-
|-
|Zerere
|Zerere  
|Green
|Green
|
|
|-
|-
|Zererena
|Zererena  
|Light green
|Light green
|
|
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|
|
|-
|-
|Huroro
|Huroro (or '''Hẋuroro / Ẋuroro''')
|Yellow
|Yellow
|
|The '''hẋ- / ẋ-'''  are pronounced similar to Scottish '''-ch''' in '''loch.'''
|-
|-
|Ndarama / Goridhe
|Ndarama / Goridhe
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|-
|-
|Svundu
|Svundu
|Brown
|Rufous brown
|
|
|-
|-
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|as in chuma chekiwani meaning rose or pink colour beads
|as in chuma chekiwani meaning rose or pink colour beads
|-
|-
|Hute
|Hute (or '''Hẋute /''' '''Ẋute''')
|Purple
|Purple
|as per the fruit
|as per the fruit  
The '''hẋ-, ẋ-'''  are pronounced similar to Scottish '''-ch''' in '''loch.'''
|-
|-
|Gatawa
|Gatawa
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|as per the tree Mupunje, Mujumbe or Mushari
|as per the tree Mupunje, Mujumbe or Mushari
|-
|-
|Pfumbu
|Pfumbu / Pfupfu
|Grey
|Grey
|
|
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|Chena
|Chena
|White
|White
|
|-
|Jenero
|Cream
|
|
|}
|}
== Colours and Meanings ==
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 ==
=== Vocabulary ===
Kufarira (to like; liking)
Kusafarira (to dislike)
Handi- (I do not...)
Muvara, Ruvara (colour)
Mivara, Mavara (colours)
=== Sentences ===
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==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Education|Education]]
* [[Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Education|Education]]
<span links></span>
<span links></span>
[[Category:Shona Lessons]]
[[Category:Shona Vocabulary]]

Latest revision as of 07:24, 24 February 2024

Zimbabwe-flag-polyglotclub-Wiki.jpg

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]

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