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

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
Black	Tema
Grey	Pfumbu

Detailed List of Colours and Shades

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	Sapphire blue
Getsiungu	Electric blue
Zerere	Green
Zererena	Light green
Pfumvudza	fern / muddy green
Puwa	Chartreuse, yellow-green
Huroro	Yellow
Ndarama / Goridhe	Gold
Ruraza	Pale yellow
Raranjiro	Amber
Rushare	Flaxen / Blonde yellow
Mbise	Brown
Mbisana	Light brown
Svundu	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	Purple	as per the fruit
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	Grey
Pfupfuma	Dark-grey
Darejena	Silver
Chena	White

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 periods.
• 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.

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