Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Family-Members
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the family members lesson in our Complete 0 to A1 Shona Course! In this lesson, we will learn the Shona words for various family members and how to talk about your family.
Family is an important part of Shona culture, and there are many specific terms for different family members. Understanding these terms will help you communicate more effectively with native Shona speakers and gain insights into the culture.
Let's get started!
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Animals & Ordering at a Restaurant.
Shona Vocabulary - Family Members[edit | edit source]
Here are the most common words for family members in Shona:
Shona | Pronunciation | English | |
---|---|---|---|
General terms | |||
Mhuri | mm-hoo-ree | family | |
Hama | ha-ma | relatives | |
Dzinza | dzee-nza | bloodline, line of descent | |
Tateguru | ta-te-goo-roo | male ancestor | tate means father in Shona |
Teteguru | te-te-goo-roo | female ancestor | tete means aunt in Shona |
Sekuru; Tatemukuru | se-koo-roo | grandfather | |
Ambuya; Gogo | ah-mm-boo-ya; go-go | grandmother | |
Sekurwana | se-koo-rua-na | uncle older than yourself | |
Mukororo | moo-ko-ro-ro | son | |
Murumbwana | moo-room-bua-na | son; a boy whom a woman breastfed | |
Mwanakomana | moo-ah-na-ko-ma-na | baby boy | term of endearment by parent |
Mukunda | moo-koon-da | daughter | |
Mwanasikana | moo-ah-na-see-ka-na | baby girl | term of endearment by parent |
Muzukuru | moo-zoo-koo-roo | nephew; neice | |
Hanzvadzi | ha-nɀa-dzee (WHISTLED) | sibling(s) | |
Hanzvadzisikana
(also hanzvadzikadzi) |
ha-nɀa-dzee-see-ka-na
(ha-nɀa-dzee-ka-dzee) |
female sibling(s); sister | |
Taita (also sisi) | Ta-ee-ta (see-see) | sister (of any age) | |
Wakoma (also Makoma) | wa-k-ma (ma-ko-ma) | older sister | |
Murongoti | moo-ron-go-tee | sister (as referred by brother) | very old Shona. |
Hanzvadzidoko | ha-nɀa-dzee-ɗo-ko (SOFT CLICK) | younger sibling(s) | |
Munin'ina | moo-neeng-ee-na | younger sibling of the same sex | a girl would call her younger sister munin'ina
but, a guy would call his younger brother munin'ina |
Munun'una | moo-noong-oo-na | younger sibling of the opposite sex | a girl would call her younger brother munun'una
but, a guy would call his younger sister munun'una |
Hanzvadzikomana
(also hanzvadzirume) |
male sibling; brother | ||
Mukoma (also bhudhi) | moo-ko-ma, (boo-dee) | older brother | |
Mwana | moo-ah-na | child | also note, that the children of one's aunt are your children |
Kazi | ka-zee; ma-koo-roo | cousin (from English) | Shona does not do cousins, but these term can be used. |
Paternal family | |||
Baba (also Bambo, Tate) | father | ||
Bambo | uncles, in general | it means "fathers"
father's brothers are also your father | |
Babamukuru (Ba'mkuru) | older brother of one's father | meaning "older father" | |
Babamunini (Ba'munini)
(also babamudiki) |
younger brother of one's father | meaning "younger father" | |
Tete
|
aunt; your father's sisters
"female father" |
father's sisters have a strong role in Shona families
Sa- is a prefix for men
| |
Wamai, Wamae | the female child of your mother's brother | ||
Maternal family | |||
Amai | mother | ||
Maiguru | older sister of mother | meaning "older mum" | |
Mainini | younger sister of mother | meaning "younger mum" | |
Mairume (Sekuru or Samukuru | mother's brothers | mairume - is male mother
why sekuru? this is because children of the mother belong to the father's side
| |
Bwanamai or Bganamai | cousins whose mothers are sisters |
Talking About Family in Shona[edit | edit source]
Now that we know the words for different family members, let's learn how to use them in sentences.
Introducing Your Family[edit | edit source]
Here's an example conversation:
Shona: Ndini Tinashe. Zita ravakadzi rangu Anesu, zita ra baba vangu Gift, nezita raamai vangu Nomatter. English: I am Tinashe. My daughter's name is Anesu, my father's name is Gift, and my mother's name is Nomatter.
Some other helpful phrases for introducing your family:
- Ini ndiri mwana weGift. (I am Gift's child.)
- Imai yangu vanonzi Nomatter. (My mother's name is Nomatter.)
- Baba vangu vanonzi Tapiwa. (My father's name is Tapiwa.)
Asking About Someone's Family[edit | edit source]
If you want to ask someone about their family, you can use the following questions:
- Vana vako vari kune? (Do you have children?)
- Vana vako vanoshanda here? (Do your children work?)
- Unonzwa Here nevana vako? (How are your children?)
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Family is an incredibly important part of Shona culture, and the family unit extends beyond immediate family members. Extended family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, are considered just as important as immediate family.
When a Shona person greets someone, it is common to ask about their family as a way of showing interest and concern. Being part of a family is seen as a source of pride, support, and identity. It is also traditional for younger family members to show respect to their elders by using specific titles such as amai (mother) and sekuru (grandfather).
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we learned the Shona words for different family members and how to talk about your family. Through understanding these words and phrases, we can gain valuable insights into Shona culture and communicate more effectively with native speakers. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to talk about your family in Shona with ease!
With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: How to say Good Bye? & Express Surprise.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Ep5 || How to read and speak Shona for kids|| Family members ...[edit | edit source]
8 IMPORTANT SHONA FAMILY WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Health
- Telling Time
- Numbers
- Modes of Transportation
- Days of the week
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Drinks
- Express Surprise
- Days of the Week
- Animals
Sources[edit | edit source]
- My Family in Shona: Translate Shona-English by Kasahorow ...
- My Family in Shona: Translate Shona-English (Shona kasahorow ...
- Family in Shona – Resources for Self-Instructional Learners of Less ...
Shona | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
baba | bah-bah | father |
amai | ah-mah-ee | mother |
mwana | m-wah-nah | child |
mwana wamai | m-wah-nah wah-mah-ee | mother's child |
mwana wababa | m-wah-nah wah-bah-bah | father's child |
Tsano | ts-a-no | brother-in-law or sister-in-law |
mwana | m-wah-nah | grandchild |
sekuru | seh-koo-roo | grandfather |
Mbuya | m-b-u-ya | grandmother |
mukwasha | mook-wah-shah | son-in-law (husband of daughter) |
munyai | moo-nye-eye | marriage negotiator |
◀️ Past Tense — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Describing Relationships ▶️ |