Language/Shona/Vocabulary/Astronomy
On this page, we will learn about astronomy in Shona. It is important to inform and understand, that much of the Shona language - as well as the languages that fall within this category - are still under development to encompass all aspects of modern science. You will find that other aspects, be it stars or otherwise may have native Shona names whilst others may have borrowed names.
In terms of borrowing, Shona historically borrows from Swahili (Arabic, Persian - much of it via Swahili), Afrikaans, Portuguese, English, and other surrounding Bantu languages due to proximity. Additionally, when borrowing new terms in current times, Shona follows the same system, although reversed, surrounding Bantu languages first, particularly those that are closely related to the Shona people and their language such as Venda, Tonga, Tsonga, Chewa, etcetera. Then Swahili, then Portuguese, then English, with Afrikaans (rarely as of present) and other world languages being a last option unless the concept in need of translation is directly derived from a specific people.
Astronomy Vocabulary
Shona word | English Translation | |
---|---|---|
Sainzi / Guruzivo | Science | Sainzi derives from English.
Guruzivo describes the function of science as a concept. |
Tendarevesainzi / Tendarevezivo | Pseudoscience | |
Upanganyedzi /Upanganyeredzi | Astronomy | |
Ruambanyeredzi / Unenanyeredzi | Astrology | |
Ruambarhadenga / Unenarhadenga | Cosmology | |
Zuva | Sun | |
Mwedzi | Moon | |
Chamushana / chazuva | Solar | i.e. Karenda yechamushana (solar calendar) |
Mutandiro wemushana | Solar System | |
Chamwedzi | Lunar | |
Nyeredzi / Nyenyedzi | Star | |
Chanyedzi | Stellar | |
Hudzitirwa | Eclipse | |
Denga | Sky | |
Chadenga | Space, outer-space | |
Pasirose | World | |
Chindeya | Planet | |
Chindeyana | Dwarf planet | |
Rudunhumwe | Universe | |
Rhadenga | Cosmos | |
Muzvcazi | Galaxy | |
Gwararezhou / Gwararakurumbi | The Milky Way Galaxy | Gwararezhou is "the path of the elephant", variation Gwararenzou.
Gwara raKurumbi "the path of Kurumbi". |
Unganyeredzi | Constellation | |
Hatomu | Atom | |
Mhodzigetsi | Electron | Meaning literally 'Electric seed' |
Dararabari / Darararito | Proton | Dararabari meaning "positive spark"
Purutoni following English. |
Ribarinjee / Chibarinjee / Sasinjee | Neutron | Meaning literally 'neutral/general spark, ordinary spark'
Nyutironi following English. |
Sebhe | Matter | |
Gunganidzo | Gravity | Meaning "gathering" |
Huremu / Ndemu | Mass | |
Svosvobwauzuru | Meteoroid | Meaning 'heaven/sky meteor' |
Svosvobwa | Meteor, shooting star | Meaning 'shooting star' |
Svosvobwaunda | Meteorite | Meaning 'land meteor' |
Ribwendeya (or Chibwendeya) | Asteroid | Meaning literally 'stone object, stone planet' |
Rimuswenyedzi (or Chimuswenyedzi) | Comet | Meaning literally 'tailed star'. |
Rifanadzvanyedzi | Nova, Novae | Meaning "like a new star" |
Chamudhuvhuranyedzi | Supernova, Supernovae | Meaning "bursting star" |
Chamupfunga | Nebula | Meaning "vapour" |
Gumbanyedzi | Asterism | Meaning "star group" |
Sumbu renyeredzi | Star cluster | |
Unye wegetsimagineti | Electromagnetic radiation | |
Boterero | Orbit | |
Muchacha wembunyuko / Muchacha wemutizo | Escape velocity | |
Sumbu rechembumbwa | Globular cluster | |
Tsazavusiku | Equinox | Tsaza- is equi, nox/noct- which is night is vusiku |
Zuvaragodza | Solstice | |
Nangazira | Spectrum | |
Mazhara / Nyamazhara | Small Magellanic Cloud | |
Maguta / Nyamaguta | Large Magellanic Cloud | |
Dongorahweva / Chiringakure | Telescope | |
Chidenengwa / Satiraiti | Satellite | |
Jingamweya / Guteromweya | Atmosphere |
Planets in Shona
Planet is Chindeya in Shona, and Planets are called Zvindeya.
Note the use of Chi- in singular form and Zvi- in plural form.
The Shona sky had 6 planets originally named, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (which is no longer a planet) were not named due to how difficult they were to sight. It is also possible that Uranus could be an exception due to the fact that it can in fact be seen in the sky as blue dot in the far distance.
Main Planets in Shona
Planets in Shona | English Translation | |
---|---|---|
Nyamatsatse | Mercury | Variations, Nyamatsatsi.
Was often confused with Venus, hence they bare the same name. |
Hweva | Venus | Also Nyamatsatsi, Masase/Masasi, Nhanda, Marinda, Murongo - all meaning 'morning' and 'evening star'. |
Rinopasi | Earth | Meaning literally 'this land, this earth' |
Murongazuva | Mars | Meaning 'one who arranges the day' |
Vhenekeratsvimborume | Jupiter | Meaning 'lights the path of bachelor' |
Chirema | Saturn | Chirema meaning 'lame/abnormal star' due to its rings.
Also Chiremera, meaning 'dignity'. |
Rivusamatenga (or Yuranisi) | Uranus | Proposed name. Meaning literally 'the governor of the heavens/above'.
Yuranisi is also used, derives from Latin. |
Nyn'aimamushana / Nyavusamadzi | Neptune | Proposed names.
Nyn'aimamushana is 'one who shines in sunlight' due to its reflectiveness of sunlight. Nyavusamadzi, meaning literally 'governor of the waters'. Neputoni also used derives from Latin. |
Dwarf planets
Minor-planets or dwarf planets are called Chindeyana (singular) and Zvindeyana (plural) in Shona.
Dwarf planets in Shona | English Translation | |
---|---|---|
Njondi | Pluto | Proposed named.
Based on definition of Pluto meaning 'wealthy one'. |
Chirisa | Ceres | Proposed name.
Based on definition, Chirisa also means 'nourishment' |
Ẋaumeya | Haumea | Yet to be given native names, instead uses Shonarised names. |
Makemake | Makemake | |
Herisi | Eris | |
Sanha | 90377 Sedna | |
Kwawari | 50000 Quaoar | |
Gon'on'u | 225088 Gongong | |
Shoromi | 90482 Orcus | Orcus and Pluto were named similiar, and so Shoromi was proposed. |
Chai | 120347 Salacia | Salacia means 'salt', so Chai was proposed. |
Stars in Shona
Star is nyeredzi or nyenyedzi in Shona, even in plural.
Stars in Shona | English Translation | |
---|---|---|
Qhayanyedzi / Nhanganyedzi | Protostar | Meaning literally "beginning star" |
Riungunyedzi | Blue Star | |
Nyedzana | Dwarf star | Meaning literally "baby star" |
Nyedzana yehuroro | Yellow Dwarf star | |
Nyedzana yeranjisi | Orange Dwarf star | |
Nyedzana itsvuku | Red Dwarf star | |
Zinyedzi iungu | Blue Giant Star | Zi- is a prefix that signifies large things. |
Zigurunyedzi riungu | Blue Supergiant star | Guru- means great.
Hence Ziguru essentially is "big great" |
Zinyedzi itsvuku | Red Giant star | |
Zigurunyedzi riungu | Red Supergiant star | |
Nyedzana ichena | White Dwarf star | |
Nyedzana itema | Black Dwarf star | |
Nyedzana yembise | Brown Dwarf star | |
Chibarinjeenyedzi | Neutron star | General spark star/neutral spark star |
Chazvuvarima | Black Hole | Proposed name. Meaning literally 'a pulling darkness' |
- | Pulsar | No native names given or proposed so English names used. |
- | Quasar | |
- | Blazar | |
- | Magnetar | |
Zuva | Sun | Native name |
Gwevamasiku | Sirius | Drawer of the night, due to being bright like Venus. |
Rinyanga | Canopus | native name, Horned star |
Ndemara | Fomalhaut | native name |
Chisimira / Chimutanhatu / Chirimera | Pleaides | Native names. |
Astronomy in Shona Quiz
Questions
Test your knowledge of the astronomy terms in Shona learned from the previous section. Good luck!
- 1. What is the Shona term for 'Science'?
- a. Guruzivo
- b. Tendarevesainzi
- c. Upanganyedzi
- d. Ruambanyeredzi
- 2. How is 'Astronomy' translated into Shona?
- a. Chamushana
- b. Upanganyedzi
- c. Chamwedzi
- d. Nyeredzi
- 3. What does 'Chindeya' refer to in Shona astronomy vocabulary?
- a. Comet
- b. Planet
- c. Star
- d. Meteor
- 4. What Shona word is used for 'Eclipse'?
- a. Chadenga
- b. Hudzitirwa
- c. Gwararezhou
- d. Sumbu renyeredzi
- 5. Which of the following terms means 'Meteorite' in Shona?
- a. Svosvobwauzuru
- b. Svosvobwaunda
- c. Svosvobwa
- d. Rimuswenyedzi
- 6. The Shona word for 'Galaxy' is
- a. Chamupfunga
- b. Muzvcazi
- c. Chamudhuvhuranyedzi
- d. Gumbanyedzi
- 7. 'Nyamatsatse' is the Shona name for which planet?
- a. Mars
- b. Mercury
- c. Jupiter
- d. Venus
- 8. What does 'Rinopasi' stand for in Shona?
- a. Saturn
- b. Earth
- c. Neptune
- d. Uranus
- 9. The term 'Chirema' in Shona refers to which planet?
- a. Jupiter
- b. Saturn
- c. Mars
- d. Venus
- 10. 'Gwevamasiku' in Shona astronomy refers to what?
- a. Canopus
- b. Sirius
- c. Fomalhaut
- d. Pleiades
Answers to Astronomy in Shona Quiz
Below are the correct answers to the quiz. Compare your answers and see how well you've learned the Shona astronomy terms:
Question Number | Correct Answer | Term in Shona |
---|---|---|
1 | a | Guruzivo |
2 | b | Upanganyedzi |
3 | b | Planet (Chindeya) |
4 | b | Hudzitirwa |
5 | b | Svosvobwaunda |
6 | b | Muzvcazi |
7 | b | Mercury (Nyamatsatse) |
8 | b | Earth (Rinopasi) |
9 | b | Saturn (Chirema) |
10 | b | Sirius (Gwevamasiku) |
Review your answers and reflect on your understanding of Shona astronomy vocabulary!