Music terms in Shona

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been working hard on translating some key music terms from English to Shona!

This project is close to my heart, and I believe it will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding Shona music traditions.

Here are some examples of the terms I’ve translated so far:

1. Scale – manera emhanzi
2. Arpeggio -manera akataramuka emhanzi
3. Staff – nyorero
4. Bar – mupanda
5. Barline – chipatsanuro chemipanda
6. Treble Clef – Mazwi akakwira
7. Bass Clef – mazwi akadzika
8. Melody – Shauro
9. Rhythm – Mafambiro
10. Harmony -Tsinhiro
11. Dynamics – Manzwiro
12. Form – mamiriro
13. Timbre – izwi
14. Texture – maumbirwo
15. Note Value – tsoka
16. Semibreve – tsoka huru
17. Minim – tsoka yepakati
18. Crotchet – tsoka kwayo
19. Quaver – tsoka diki
20. Semiquaver – tsoka dikisa
21. Rest – chinyaradzo
22. Repeat sign – Dzokeredza
23. End sign – Pedza
24. Key – mhuri
25. Major key – mhuri yekutanga
26. Minor key -mhuri yemwana
27. Chord – kubatana
28. Major chord – kubatana kwevabereki
29. Minor chord – kubatana kwevana
30. Diminished chord – kubatana kwevavakidzani
31. Augmented chord – kubatana kweshamwari
32. Performance – mutambo
33. Composition – chirukwa
34. Song – rwiyo
35. Songs – nziyo
36. Music – mumhanzi
37. Playing – kuridza
38. Instrument – chiridzwa
39. Instruments – zviridzwa
40. Instrument Families – mhando dzezviridzwa
41. Playing method – maridzirwo
42. Chordophones – zviridzwa zvetambo
43. Aerophones – zviridzwa zvinofuridzwa
44. Idiophones – zviridzwa zvemiti nesimbi
45. Membranophones – zviridzwa zvematehwe
46. Electrophones -zviridzwa zvemagetsi
47. Plucking – kutekenya
48. Strumming – kukwenya
49. Blowing – kufuridza
50. Hitting – kurova
51. Bowing – kupuruzira
52. Shaking – kukuchukudza
53. Allegro – mhanya
54. Andante – famba
55. Lento – famba zvinyoro
56. Cantabile – seunoimba
57. Musician – gwenyambira
58. Singer – muimbi
59. Soloist – muimbi mumwe
60. Duet – vaimbi vaviri
61. Trio – vaimbi vatatu
62. Quartet – vaimbi vana
63. Quintet – vaimbi vashanu
64. Choir – vaimbi vazhinji
65. Key signature – mamiriro emhuri
66. Time signature – mafambiro enguva
67. Dynamics – Kushongedzwa

I’m still working on expanding this list, and I would love your help!

If you know of any other important music terms that need translation, please comment below or send me a message directly. I’m also open to suggestions for alternative translations for the terms I’ve already listed.

Enjoy Shiriano, a Mbiriano song as you brainstorm.