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Why Shona learning matters, and how to make it easy

March 21, 2025January 9, 2025 by ZimbOriginal

Ever since I took on my first learner back in 2019, Shona learning has become a subject dear to me. I believe proficiency in more … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language Leave a comment

Nyaudzosingwi| Many Shona words for 101 English verbs

February 28, 2025March 2, 2023 by ZimbOriginal

This post was last updated on 12 January 2025. Adverbs Adverbs are words that modify or describe words such as verbs, adjectives, clauses, sentences, and … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 4 Comments

Madimikira| 28 idioms from the 1968 novel ‘Tambaoga Mwanangu’

May 13, 2025February 9, 2023 by ZimbOriginal

After reading China manenji hachifambisi I wrote on idioms (madimikira) that the writer, Mordikai A. Hamutyinei, used in the story. I decided to do the … Read more

Categories Language, Literature 7 Comments

Tsumo| 20 Shona proverbs to inspire good work habits

May 20, 2025November 30, 2020 by ZimbOriginal

Tsumo on work tell a story of a hard-working society, and give the picture that agriculture was the mainstay of the economy of the Shona … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 10 Comments

Nyaudzosingwi| Breaking down 70 ideophones of breaking

February 20, 2025October 29, 2020 by ZimbOriginal
broken eggshells

In lay terms, ideophones are words that stand out (are ‘marked’) and whose form betrays something of (is depictive of) their meaning. The following 70 … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language Leave a comment

My 5 ingredients for helping children with Shona language learning

February 20, 2025September 12, 2020 by ZimbOriginal
ingredients-recipe

Culture and language are inextricably intertwined. Over the past year or so, I have done a lot of research and writing on Shona culture and … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 4 Comments

63 Shona words you didn’t know were borrowed from Afrikaans

February 20, 2025August 15, 2020 by ZimbOriginal
shona afrikaans word bubbles

It is common knowledge that a few Shona words have an Afrikaans influence. I recently came across one that I found surprising, leading me to … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 10 Comments

Tsumo| 6 things I have learned through analysing over 200 Shona proverbs

March 21, 2025July 13, 2020 by ZimbOriginal

Over the past few months, I have taken time to analyse over 200 Shona proverbs, just out of interest. Some of them have motivated me … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 2 Comments

Tsumo| 25 Shona proverbs inspired by children

March 21, 2025June 30, 2020 by ZimbOriginal

Shona proverbs that relate to children help portray what the Shona understand about children and childhood. Below are 25 such proverbs. 1. Chikomo shata divi, … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 2 Comments

5 reasons children struggle with Shona language learning

February 20, 2025May 15, 2020 by ZimbOriginal
Children playing 'nhodo'

I have seen corporate advertisements with glaring irregularities, following a poor attempt by salesmen and marketers to communicate in the Shona language. In almost similar … Read more

Categories Language, Shona Language 12 Comments
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Recent Posts

  • Why Shona learning matters, and how to make it easy
  • What do ancestors have to do with the indigenous religion of the Shona?
  • 5 uncommon death and funerary customs of the Shona
  • Nyaudzosingwi| Many Shona words for 101 English verbs
  • Madimikira| 28 idioms from the 1968 novel ‘Tambaoga Mwanangu’

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Recent Stories

  • Why Shona learning matters, and how to make it easy January 9, 2025
  • What do ancestors have to do with the indigenous religion of the Shona? April 7, 2024
  • 5 uncommon death and funerary customs of the Shona March 20, 2024
  • Nyaudzosingwi| Many Shona words for 101 English verbs March 2, 2023
  • Madimikira| 28 idioms from the 1968 novel ‘Tambaoga Mwanangu’ February 9, 2023

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