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. verb | CHIITO |
| 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. adhere | NAMATIRA |
| namata (adhere strongly) Wotoshandisa guruu rakasimba kuti mapepa acho anyatsoti namata. | |
| 2. appear suddenly | DZUMBUNUKA |
| dzumbunu (appear suddenly) Murairidzi akangoerekana ati mukirasi dzumbunu. | |
| 3. applaud (and cheer) | KUWERERA |
| kuwerere (applaud loudly) Tose kuwerere! Nhasi timu yedu yakunda! | |
| 4. apply | ZORA |
| … apply carelessly | POSHOSHEDZA |
| 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. arrive | SVIKA |
| pfacha (arrive suddenly) Akangoerekana ati pfacha pamusha, vanhu vagere zvavo. | |
| 7. beat | SVABURA, ZVAMBURA |
| svabu (beat lightly) Amai vakamuti svabu nekashamhu, mushure mokunge aita musikanzwa. | |
| zvambu (beat severely) Akanzi zvambu kusvika adura zvakanga zvaitika. | |
| 8. bend | KOTAMA |
| kota kota (bend over continuously (e.g. when hoeing)) Kota kota mubanimo. | |
| 9. bite | RUMA |
| nyenyu (take a small bite) Akangoti pichisi nyenyu ndokuripotsera uko. | |
| 10. blink | BWAIRA |
| doi doi (blink slowly) Akanga ongoti doi doi, maziso orema nehope. | |
| 11. blow | PEPEREKA, VHUVHUMA |
| peperere (blow away) Mashizha aiti peperere nekuda kwekamhepo kaivhuvhuma. | |
| fe-e (blow gently, steadily) Kamhepo kaiti fe-e, kachinzwika kutonhorera kumeso. | |
| 12. bounce | GAGADIKA |
| 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. breathe | FEMA |
| hata hata (breathe heavily) Achingonzwa zvakanga zvaitika akati hata hata nehasha. | |
| 15. burn | BVIRA |
| ririri (burn fiercely) Mazirimi emwoto akati ririri nesango. | |
| 16. chew | TSENGA |
| chanyau chanyau (chew noisily) Waingonzwa chanyau chanyau, chiri chimwana chaidya manhuchu. | |
| 17. clap | UCHIRA |
| 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. cover | FUKIDZA, KWIDIBIRA |
| tiba (cover suddenly) Akanyangira kambwa nekumashure ndokunokati nejira tiba kuti akwanise kukabata. | |
| 20. crack | TSEMURA, 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. crouch | HWATATA |
| hwata (crouch quickly) Mbada yakati hwata ichigadzirira kusvarukira mhembwe yaiva seri kwechikwenzi. | |
| 23. depart | ENDA |
| hutu (depart suddenly) Shungu akangosimudza bhegi rake ndiye hutu. | |
| nyeru (depart stealthily) Akangoti nyeru asina kuoneka. | |
| 24. descend | BURUKA |
| 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. desire | DOKWAIRA |
| dokwa dokwa (desire strongly) Mujubheki akanga ava nemakore asina kuenda kumusha. Aiti kungokufunga chete, mwoyo woti dokwa dokwa. | |
| 27. dig | CHERA |
| kadabu (vigorously) Muvaki aichera akasimudza piki ndokunoti pasi kadabu. | |
| 28. disarrange | BVANGANYURA |
| bvandanyu (disarrange roughly) Zvose zvaingonzi bvandanyu, Shungu achitsvaga mari yake. | |
| 29. do | ITA |
| si (do habitually) Maria anoti si netsika yake yekumhanya mangwanani oga oga. | |
| chichi (do intensely) Kana afunga zvake kuita basa anoti naro chichi. | |
| 30. dress | PFEKA |
| popopo (dress smartly) Shungu akasvika pamuchato akati popopo. | |
| 31. drink | INWA |
| 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. drip | DONHA |
| do do do (drip continuously) Mvura yakaswera ichingoti do do do kubva papombi yakanga isina kusungwa zvakasimba. | |
| 33. eat | IDYA |
| 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. enter | PINDA |
| 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. |
There are many nyaudzosingwi for ‘fall’ as there are many verbs. You can take a look at these many forms here.
| 37. find | WANA |
| dumbunuru (find unexpectedly) Ndakazongoti dumbunuru bhutsu yandainge ndapedza mwedzi ndichitsvaga. | |
| 38. finish | PEDZA |
| 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. flash | BWITUKA |
| 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 up | SIMUKA |
| 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. go | ENDA |
| 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. happen | ITIKA |
| divi (happen unexpectedly) Mvura yakangoti divi zvokuti akashaya mukana wekubvisa hembe dzakanga dzakayanikwa panze, | |
| 51. hold | BATA |
| 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. jab | JUNGA |
| njodogo (jab painfully) | |
| 53. jump | SVETUKA |
| fetu (jump back) | |
| 54. kick | KAVA |
| pfihwu (kick lightly) | |
| 55. kneel | PFUGAMA |
| gorwada (kneel weakly) | |
| 56. land | WIRA |
| ja (land heavily) | |
| 57. laugh | SEKA |
| pfi pfi (laugh derisively) | |
| godo (laugh heartily) | |
| pwiri pwiri (laugh scornfully) | |
| 58. leave | IBVA |
| shapu (leave suddenly) | |
| bve (leave quickly) | |
| 59. listen | TEERERA |
| bengwa (listen intently) | |
| 60. miss | POTSA |
| kwasve (miss narrowly) | |
| 61. move | FAMBA |
| … move apart | TARAMUKA |
| taramu (move apart) Itii taramu, murege kuungana panzvimbo imwechete. | |
| … move jerkily | ZENGUKA |
| zengu zengu (move jerkily) Mugwagwa wacho une makomba makomba, saka ngoro yanga ichingoti zengu zengu chibage chichirasikira mumugwagwa. | |
| karakata (move laboriously) | |
| … move quietly | VERERA |
| verere (move quietly) Sekai achiona Simon, mukomana waakanga aramba zuro wacho, akabva ati verere achibva pamabiko. | |
| … move slowly | NANAIRA |
| 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. penetrate | BOOARA |
| tipi tipi/ tinya (penetrate deeply) | |
| 63. pinch | TSUNYA |
| ndwi (lightly and painfully) | |
| 64. pour out (small amount) | TSVOTIDZA |
| tsvoti (pour out small amount) | |
| 65. prick | BAYA |
| fi-i (prick lightly) | |
| 66. put down | GADZIKA |
| ji (put down heavily) | |
| tsve (put down quickly) | |
| 67. rain | NAYA |
| wa wa wa (rain lightly) | |
| wa-a (rain heavily) | |
| 68. refuse | RAMBA |
| chanja (refuse peremptorily) | |
| de (refuse rudely) | |
| kakava (refuse stubbornly) | |
| 69. rejoice | FARA |
| faru (rejoice intensely) | |
| 70. remove | BVISA |
| kwengu (remove completely) | |
| kwachu (remove forcefully) | |
| wau (remove violently) | |
| 71. rise | SIMUKA, KWIRA |
| vazu (rise quickly) | |
| nyuru/ vharandanda (rise suddenly) | |
| fukumu (rise very early) | |
| putiputi (rise gently) | |
| … rise suddenly | KWARAKWASHUKA |
| 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. roll | KUNGURUKA |
| gudumu (roll noisily) | |
| 73. run | MHANYA |
| ngumbu ngumbu (run clumsily) | |
| gigi gigi (run heavily) | |
| nya nya nya (run quietly) | |
| wiririri (run fast) | |
| 74. scratch | KWENYA |
| gwabvu (scratch deeply) | |
| bveru (scratch lightly) | |
| 75. search | TSVAGA |
| badara badara (search eagerly) | |
| patara (search frantically) | |
| 76. shine | PENYA |
| jenen’ene (shine brightly) | |
| banan’ana (shine clearly) | |
| 77. shout | DEEDZERA |
| tekedza (shout disrespectfully) | |
| 78. sit | GARA |
| 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. slap | ROVA |
| ta (slap lightly) | |
| pamu (slap heavily) | |
| 80. sleep | RARA |
| ringinyi (sleep soundly) | |
| 81. smile | SEKERERA |
| mwengu (smile slightly) | |
| mwenyu (smile toothlessly) | |
| 82. speak | TAURA |
| dzamwa (speak casually) | |
| nzanza (speak confusedly) | |
| mahati mahati (speak diffidently) | |
| deku deku (speak distinctly) | |
| dimi (speak figuratively) | |
| dedemu (speak fluently) | |
| 83. spread | WARIDZA |
| chechetere (spread evenly) | |
| 84. stab | BAYA |
| tubvu (stab deeply) | |
| bayu (stab quickly) | |
| bwa (stab strongly) | |
| 85. stand | MIRA |
| 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 up | SIMUKA |
| 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. stare | TARISA |
| 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. suck | KWEKWETA |
| kwekwetu (suck noisily) VaPfocho vakabata mukombe vachibva vati doro kwekwetu. | |
| 91. swallow | MEDZA |
| gudubi (swallow audibly) Ndakakanda chimusuva chesadza mukanwa ndokubva ndangochiti gudubi. | |
| 92. swell | ZVIMBA |
| futunu (swell visibly) Miromo yake yakanga yakati futunu. | |
| tu tu tu zai (swell immediately) Ndarumwa pamuromo uchibva wangoti tu tu tu zai, pakarepo. | |
| 93. talk | TAURA |
| … talk quickly/ a great deal | ROPODZA |
| ropo (talk quickly) Tose takaramba takamutarisa achingoti ropo. | |
| … talk carelessly | BVOTOMOKA |
| bvoto (talk without thinking) Maidei akabva ati zvese bvoto, amai vake vakashaya pekupinda nenyadzi. | |
| 94. think | FUNGA |
| kutu kutu (think deeply) Akati kutu kutu kufunga agere zvake chinyararire mumumvuri weberevere remba. | |
| 95. uncover | FUGURA |
| fugu (uncover quickly) Simon akabata jira ndokuriti kamwechete fugu, apa hana ichirova zvakasimba. | |
| 96. vomit | RUTSA |
| ho (vomit noisily) Akangoti achipedza kumedza, ndiye pakarepo ho kurutsa. | |
| … vomit suddenly | BUKURA |
| buku (vomit suddenly) Akati buku agere, marutsi achibva anoti patya pabhuku raiva pagumbo. | |
| 97. wake up | MUKA |
| … wake up suddenly | PARAPATIKA |
| parapata (wake up suddenly) Paakatema imbwa yaiva ivete, yakabva yati parapata, simu, ichibva yatiza. | |
| 98. walk | FAMBA |
| … walk slowly, tiredly | GWEDAIRA |
| gweda gweda (walk slowly, tiredly) Zigadzi rakanga rongoti gweda gweda, rodzokera kumba, badza riri pafudzi. | |
| … walk gently | NYAVAIRA |
| 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. work | SHANDA |
| rengwende rengwende (work half-heartedly) Sakuro haraifamba naivo vakomana vaingoti rengwende rengwende. | |
| 100. wrestle | KIKIRIKA |
| kikiri kikiri (wrestle strenously) Varume vaviri vakabatana huro ndokuti kikiri kikiri. | |
| 101. wrinkle | FENENYEDZA |
| 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).