Nyaudzosingwi| Many Shona words for 101 English verbs

Modifying verbs

Adverbs are words that modify or describe words such as verbs, adjectives, clauses, sentences, and even other adverbs. It is easy to think of adverbs as words ending with -ly, but that is not always the case really. Now, look at the example sentences below in which adverbs (in bold) have described the verbs.

The dog ate quickly.

The grass had become very dry.

Nyaudzosingwi and verbs

Nyaudzosingwi could be used to achieve the same outcome as that from the use of adverbs. Taking the two examples above, in ChiShona we could use nyaudzosingwi as follows:

Imbwa yakangoti kabu kabu.

Uswa hwakanga hwati shwangu.

Now that you have some background, take a look at the following 101 verbs and some nyaudzosingwi for each. The table is organised as follows.

1. verbCHIITO
nyaudzosingwi (explanation in English)
Chirevo chine nyaudzosingwi.

The nyaudzosingwi in a way is a modified verb. I have mostly gone for the easy adverbs; the ones ending with -ly.

1. adhereNAMATIRA
namata (adhere strongly)
Wotoshandisa guruu rakasimba kuti mapepa acho anyatsoti namata.
2. appear suddenlyDZUMBUNUKA
dzumbunu (appear suddenly)
Murairidzi akangoerekana ati mukirasi dzumbunu.
3. applaud (and cheer)KUWERERA
kuwerere (applaud loudly)
Tose kuwerere! Nhasi timu yedu yakunda!
4. applyZORA
… apply carelesslyPOSHOSHEDZA
pukushu pukushu (apply carelessly)
Kumeso kwake kwairatidza kuti mafuta ainge angonzi pukushu pukushu,
5. approach (stealthily)NYANGIRA
nyangi nyangi (approach stealthily)
Hatina kumunzwa achisvika nokuti akangoti nyangi nyangi.
6. arriveSVIKA
pfacha (arrive suddenly)
Akangoerekana ati pfacha pamusha, vanhu vagere zvavo.
7. beatSVABURA, ZVAMBURA
svabu (beat lightly)
Amai vakamuti svabu nekashamhu, mushure mokunge aita musikanzwa.
zvambu (beat severely)
Akanzi zvambu kusvika adura zvakanga zvaitika.
8. bendKOTAMA
kota kota (bend over continuously (e.g. when hoeing))
Kota kota mubanimo.
9. biteRUMA
nyenyu (take a small bite)
Akangoti pichisi nyenyu ndokuripotsera uko.
10. blinkBWAIRA
doi doi (blink slowly)
Akanga ongoti doi doi, maziso orema nehope.
11. blowPEPEREKA, VHUVHUMA
peperere (blow away)
Mashizha aiti peperere nekuda kwekamhepo kaivhuvhuma.
fe-e (blow gently, steadily)
Kamhepo kaiti fe-e, kachinzwika kutonhorera kumeso.
12. bounceGAGADIKA
njai njai (bounce up and down)
Musikana aiti njai njai ari pabhiza raimhanya.
13. break MEDURA, MEDUKA, TYOKA
nepfu (break easily)
Akaruma keke ndokuti chimedu nepfu achiratidza kunakirwa zvikuru.
ngotyo (break with a snap)
Gumbo recheya rakati ngotyo Chenai ndokudonhera pasi.

The example I used on 8 is a Shona riddle. You can click here (riddle 25) to see what it means.

On 13, medura, meduka are different forms of the same verb; Medura is transitive (requires an object to receive the action) and meduka is intransitive. Also, there are many nyaudzosingwi for ‘break’ as there are many verbs. You can take a look at some of these many forms here.

14. breatheFEMA
hata hata (breathe heavily)
Achingonzwa zvakanga zvaitika akati hata hata nehasha.
15. burnBVIRA
ririri (burn fiercely)
Mazirimi emwoto akati ririri nesango.
16. chewTSENGA
chanyau chanyau (chew noisily)
Waingonzwa chanyau chanyau, chiri chimwana chaidya manhuchu.
17. clapUCHIRA
kwa kwa kwa (clap as done by men)
Kwa kwa kwa. Uku kwaiva kuuchira kwamakurukota mushure mokunge vaona nokunzwa kuuchira kwaTambaoga.
bu bu bu (clap as done by women)
Amai vakatenda mwana wavo, bu bu bu, “maita basa Chirandu.”
18. climb KWIRA
kanyan’anya (climb up quickly)
Mbada yakati muti kanyan’anya.
19. coverFUKIDZA, KWIDIBIRA
tiba (cover suddenly)
Akanyangira kambwa nekumashure ndokunokati nejira tiba kuti akwanise kukabata.
20. crackTSEMURA, TSEMUKA
tsetserere (crack extensively)
Chiringiriro chakati nepakati tsetserere.
21. crawl/ come out (long thing)ZVAZVANUKA
zvazvanu (crawl out like a long thing does)
Zigarwe rakati zvazvanu richibuda munyanza.
22. crouchHWATATA
hwata (crouch quickly)
Mbada yakati hwata ichigadzirira kusvarukira mhembwe yaiva seri kwechikwenzi.
23. departENDA
hutu (depart suddenly)
Shungu akangosimudza bhegi rake ndiye hutu.
nyeru (depart stealthily)
Akangoti nyeru asina kuoneka.
24. descendBURUKA
buru buru (descend quickly)
Kwakatanga kunaya ari pamusoro pemba, iye ndokubva angoti nemanera buru buru.
25. describe (fully)DONONGODZA
donongo (describe fully)
Musikana akamira pamberi pedare ndokuti donongo mamirire ainge akaita nzvimbo yakaitikira tsaona.
26. desireDOKWAIRA
dokwa dokwa (desire strongly)
Mujubheki akanga ava nemakore asina kuenda kumusha. Aiti kungokufunga chete, mwoyo woti dokwa dokwa.
27. digCHERA
kadabu (vigorously)
Muvaki aichera akasimudza piki ndokunoti pasi kadabu.
28. disarrangeBVANGANYURA
bvandanyu (disarrange roughly)
Zvose zvaingonzi bvandanyu, Shungu achitsvaga mari yake.
29. doITA
si (do habitually)
Maria anoti si netsika yake yekumhanya mangwanani oga oga.
chichi (do intensely)
Kana afunga zvake kuita basa anoti naro chichi.
30. dressPFEKA
popopo (dress smartly)
Shungu akasvika pamuchato akati popopo.
31. drinkINWA
gabidi gabidi (drink noisily)
Waingonzwa gabidi gabidi, pfuko iri pamuromo.
gwakwai (drink quickly)
Akasimudza chipfuko, doro rose ndokunzi gwakwai.
kwekwetu (drink (up) completely)
VaPfocho vakagadzika chipfuko pasi mushure mokunge doro rose variti kwekwetu.
dzvutu (drink by taking a small mouthful)
“Harisi kunaka here, iro ramangoti dzvutu muchibva maisa pfuko pasi?” vakadaro VaGogoti kuna VaPfocho.
32. dripDONHA
do do do (drip continuously)
Mvura yakaswera ichingoti do do do kubva papombi yakanga isina kusungwa zvakasimba.
33. eatIDYA
dzau (eat greedily)
Imbwa yakakandirwa bhonzo ndokuriti dzau.
kacha (eat hungrily)
Mwana akanga anzwa nenzara. Akasvikogara pasi ndokuti ranjisi kacha.
kabu kabu (eat quickly)
Anogoti kabu kabu kunge munhu ava negore asina kudya seiko?
pepetu (eat up completely)
Sadza rako ranga richinaka fani; ranzi rose pepetu.
34. enterPINDA
kwede (enter easily)
Bhutsu dzakati kurei ndidzo dzitsvene. Tsoka inongonoti kwede.
tititi (enter gently)
Akazarura gonhi zvinyoronyoro achinoti tititi mumba.
ngori (enter quickly)
Kakonzo kakangoti ngori mumwena.
35. explain (fully)DODORODZA
dodoro (explain fully)
Musikana akanyatsoti nyaya yake dodoro pamberi pedare.
36. fall (heavily and roll)BHIDHIRIKA
bhidhiri (fall heavily and roll)
Muti uno mukuru wakarohwa nemheni ndokunoti bhidhiri pakati pemugwagwa.
This man is drinking from a ‘pfuko,’ sometimes called ‘chipfuko.’ The vessel is small and has a narrow-mouthed neck, making it suitable for drinking. See example sentences under ‘drink’ for references made to ‘pfuko.’

There are many nyaudzosingwi for ‘fall’ as there are many verbs. You can take a look at these many forms here.

37. findWANA
dumbunuru (find unexpectedly)
Ndakazongoti dumbunuru bhutsu yandainge ndapedza mwedzi ndichitsvaga.
38. finishPEDZA
tsvangu (finish completely)
Takazosara totemura mushure mokunge muriwo wose wanzi tsvangu.
39. fit (loosely)NGURA-NGURA
nguru nguru (fit loosely)
Badza nguru nguru; unoti ndinosakura sei?
40. flashBWITUKA
n’a dzi n’a dzi (flash intermittently)
Chido aiti n’a dzi n’a dzi netochi yake murima.
41. flavour (excessively)CHIKIDIDZA
chikidi (flavour excessively)
Munyu wakanzi chikidi mumuriwo.
42. flow (noisily)KOPOTA
kopo kopo (flow noisily)
Rwizi rwakanga rwakazara, mvura ichiti kopo kopo.
43. follow (in succession)PITIPIDZA
pitipiti (follow in succession)
Mombe dzakati pitipiti kupinda mudanga.
44. get upSIMUKA
washu (get up quickly)
Chenai angoti washu achibva atiza.
taratadzu (get up weakly)
Shingai akazosara oti taratadzu mbavha dzainge dzamurova dzatotiza.
45. glance (shyly)DZVAZURA
dzvau (glance shyly)
Ndakabva ndamuti dzvau ndichisekerera.
46. glare (angrily)DZVOKORA
dzvoko (glare angrily)
Akamuti dzvoko akavhurisa maziso nehasha.
47. goENDA
nyn’a (go away and never return)
Akavaudza kuti aizodzoka zuva rovira, asi akabva azongoti nyn’a.
… go (out quickly)DHUGUKA
dhu (go out quickly)
Chenai angoti mumota dhu achibva atiza.
48. grip (firmly)BATA
mbandi (grip firmly)
Mukomana akanga oda kutiza ndokubva anzi ruoko mbandi.

Dzvazura and dzvokora are both verbs for ‘tarisa,’ in the same way ‘glance’ and ‘glare’ are related to the verb ‘look.’ You will also notice that each of the verbs (dzvazura and dzvokora) goes hand in hand with the nyaudzosingwi given.

49. hang – head (sadly)SURUDUDIKA
surududu (hang head to show sadness)
VaKufakunesu vakanga vogara vakati musoro surududu.
50. happenITIKA
divi (happen unexpectedly)
Mvura yakangoti divi zvokuti akashaya mukana wekubvisa hembe dzakanga dzakayanikwa panze,
51. holdBATA
dzvi (hold firmly)
Shungu akanga oda kusimuka ndokubva anzi ruoko dzvi naamai vake vainge vagere pedo naye.
kwi (hold tightly)
Themba akati tambo iya kwi ndokubva atanga kudhonza.
52. jabJUNGA
njodogo (jab painfully)
53. jumpSVETUKA
fetu (jump back)
54. kickKAVA
pfihwu (kick lightly)
55. kneelPFUGAMA
gorwada (kneel weakly)
56. landWIRA
ja (land heavily)
57. laughSEKA
pfi pfi (laugh derisively)
godo (laugh heartily)
pwiri pwiri (laugh scornfully)
58. leaveIBVA
shapu (leave suddenly)
bve (leave quickly)
59. listenTEERERA
bengwa (listen intently)
60. missPOTSA
kwasve (miss narrowly)
61. moveFAMBA
… move apartTARAMUKA
taramu (move apart)
Itii taramu, murege kuungana panzvimbo imwechete.
… move jerkilyZENGUKA
zengu zengu (move jerkily)
Mugwagwa wacho une makomba makomba, saka ngoro yanga ichingoti zengu zengu chibage chichirasikira mumugwagwa.
karakata (move laboriously)
… move quietlyVERERA
verere (move quietly)
Sekai achiona Simon, mukomana waakanga aramba zuro wacho, akabva ati verere achibva pamabiko.
… move slowlyNANAIRA
nanai nanai (move slowly)
Amai vakazvitakura vaifamba zvavo vachiti nanai nanai chindumurwa chavo chichitevera mumashure.

There are many English verbs that relate to motion. Nyaudzosingwi will help tell apart things such as a swift move from a slow move, and a smooth move from a jerky one. But then again, there are just as many ChiShona verbs!

62. penetrateBOOARA
tipi tipi/ tinya (penetrate deeply)
63. pinchTSUNYA
ndwi (lightly and painfully)
64. pour out (small amount)TSVOTIDZA
tsvoti (pour out small amount)
65. prickBAYA
fi-i (prick lightly)
66. put downGADZIKA
ji (put down heavily)
tsve (put down quickly)
67. rainNAYA
wa wa wa (rain lightly)
wa-a (rain heavily)
68. refuseRAMBA
chanja (refuse peremptorily)
de (refuse rudely)
kakava (refuse stubbornly)
69. rejoiceFARA
faru (rejoice intensely)
70. removeBVISA
kwengu (remove completely)
kwachu (remove forcefully)
wau (remove violently)
71. riseSIMUKA, KWIRA
vazu (rise quickly)
nyuru/ vharandanda (rise suddenly)
fukumu (rise very early)
putiputi (rise gently)
… rise suddenlyKWARAKWASHUKA
kwarakwashu (rise suddenly)
Akaona imbwa ichimhanya yakamunanga ndiye kwarakwashu kusimuka achibva atiza.

The many nyaudzosingwi for ‘rise’ speak to different ways, or different things. For instance, rising from sitting, rising smoke, and rising from sleep.

72. rollKUNGURUKA
gudumu (roll noisily)
73. runMHANYA
ngumbu ngumbu (run clumsily)
gigi gigi (run heavily)
nya nya nya (run quietly)
wiririri (run fast)
74. scratchKWENYA
gwabvu (scratch deeply)
bveru (scratch lightly)
75. searchTSVAGA
badara badara (search eagerly)
patara (search frantically)
76. shinePENYA
jenen’ene (shine brightly)
banan’ana (shine clearly)
77. shoutDEEDZERA
tekedza (shout disrespectfully)
78. sitGARA
tunhuma (sit gloomily)
zho (sit heavily)
kupfuma (sit lazily)
kurunduru (sit sadly)
susuva (sit sorrowfully)
kondama (sit sulkily)

You will notice that the nyaudzosingwi for ‘sit’ do not only relate to the way one sits, but also to one’s state while they are seated.

Gara‘ is an interesting type of verb; the action continues yet the act has been completed. As a result, for verbs of this nature the Shona forms of the simple past and present progressive tenses are the same. For example, ‘I am sitting’ is ‘Ndakagara.’ While ‘I sat’ is also ‘Ndakagara.’

For other verbs, those two sentences would not be similar. For example, ‘I am eating’ is ‘Ndiri kudya.’ while ‘I ate’ is ‘Ndakadya.’

Because of these differences, it is not unusual to hear a Shona language learner say ‘Ndiri kugara.’ (which is incorrect), instead of ‘Ndakagara.’

79. slapROVA
ta (slap lightly)
pamu (slap heavily)
80. sleepRARA
ringinyi (sleep soundly)
81. smileSEKERERA
mwengu (smile slightly)
mwenyu (smile toothlessly)
82. speakTAURA
dzamwa (speak casually)
nzanza (speak confusedly)
mahati mahati (speak diffidently)
deku deku (speak distinctly)
dimi (speak figuratively)
dedemu (speak fluently)
83. spreadWARIDZA
chechetere (spread evenly)
84. stabBAYA
tubvu (stab deeply)
bayu (stab quickly)
bwa (stab strongly)
85. standMIRA
mirizizi (stand in unmannerly way)
‘Vana avo vanotinyadzisireiko nekungoti mirizizi vari pagere vanhu vakuru?’ mudzidzisi akabvunza akabata muchiuno..
ndingwi (stand stiffly)
Mapurisa akaramba akati ndingwi, mutangamiriri wenyika achipfuura nepamberi pavo.
ratyama (stand weakly)
Kamhuru kainge kachangozvarwa kakanga kakati ratyama, kachiita sekachapunzika.
86. stand upSIMUKA
nyamu (stand up quickly)
Agara pachigaro asina kuona zvipikiri zvakarovererwapo; angoti nyamu pakarepo.
kwanyanu (stand up slowly)
Chembere yakati kwanyanu, ichiratidza kuti yairwadziwa zvikuru.
87. stareTARISA
dzvoko (stare angrily)
Akanga akanzi dzvoko zvokuti haana kukwanisa kuzotaura zvaaida.+-
88. strike (heavily with open hand)BHAMADZA
bhama (strike heavily with open hand)
Akanzi kumusana bhama, achibva anowira pasi.
89. sway VHEYA
vhe-e-vhe-e (sway backwards and forwards)
Kamwana kakati vhe-e vhe-e kari pamuzerere.
90. suckKWEKWETA
kwekwetu (suck noisily)
VaPfocho vakabata mukombe vachibva vati doro kwekwetu.
91. swallowMEDZA
gudubi (swallow audibly)
Ndakakanda chimusuva chesadza mukanwa ndokubva ndangochiti gudubi.
92. swellZVIMBA
futunu (swell visibly)
Miromo yake yakanga yakati futunu.
tu tu tu zai (swell immediately)
Ndarumwa pamuromo uchibva wangoti tu tu tu zai, pakarepo.
93. talkTAURA
… talk quickly/ a great dealROPODZA
ropo (talk quickly)
Tose takaramba takamutarisa achingoti ropo.
… talk carelesslyBVOTOMOKA
bvoto (talk without thinking)
Maidei akabva ati zvese bvoto, amai vake vakashaya pekupinda nenyadzi.
94. thinkFUNGA
kutu kutu (think deeply)
Akati kutu kutu kufunga agere zvake chinyararire mumumvuri weberevere remba.
95. uncoverFUGURA
fugu (uncover quickly)
Simon akabata jira ndokuriti kamwechete fugu, apa hana ichirova zvakasimba.
96. vomitRUTSA
ho (vomit noisily)
Akangoti achipedza kumedza, ndiye pakarepo ho kurutsa.
… vomit suddenlyBUKURA
buku (vomit suddenly)
Akati buku agere, marutsi achibva anoti patya pabhuku raiva pagumbo.
97. wake upMUKA
… wake up suddenlyPARAPATIKA
parapata (wake up suddenly)
Paakatema imbwa yaiva ivete, yakabva yati parapata, simu, ichibva yatiza.
98. walkFAMBA
… walk slowly, tiredlyGWEDAIRA
gweda gweda (walk slowly, tiredly)
Zigadzi rakanga rongoti gweda gweda, rodzokera kumba, badza riri pafudzi.
… walk gentlyNYAVAIRA
nyava nyava (walk gently)
Wotoita zvekuti nyava nyava uchipinda mubhedhuru, nokuti mune mwana avete.
piku piku (walk briskly)
Mukoti akati piku piku achienda kunobatsira murwere akanga achangopinda mukiriniki.
99. workSHANDA
rengwende rengwende (work half-heartedly)
Sakuro haraifamba naivo vakomana vaingoti rengwende rengwende.
100. wrestleKIKIRIKA
kikiri kikiri (wrestle strenously)
Varume vaviri vakabatana huro ndokuti kikiri kikiri.
101. wrinkleFENENYEDZA
fenenya (wrinkle disdainfully)
Vakaramba vakamutarisa, apa kumeso kwakanzi fenenya.

I really hope this goes a long way in helping you with understanding nyaudzosingwi. Currently, most words do not have example sentences. These are way too many words to get it done soon enough! I will however be continually updating, so stay in touch!


The analyses on grammar, and examples used, are based on my understanding. They are given in no professional or expert capacity. Ideophones were sourced from Hannan S.J, Standard Shona Dictionary (Revised Edition, College Press).

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