Noun Classes

Shona has 24 noun classes. Each class groups nouns that share the same prefix and concord patterns.

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Mupanda 1

Human singular nouns

mu-

Examples

munhu, mukomana, mudzidzi

Mupanda 1a

Kinship names and proper nouns

Ø-

Examples

tezvara

Mupanda 2

Human plural nouns

va-

Examples

vanhu, vakomana, vadzidzi

Mupanda 2a

Plural proper names

va-

Examples

VaGumbo

Mupanda 2b

Respectful kinship nouns

Examples

ambuya, amai

Mupanda 3

Trees and long objects

mu-

mw-

Examples

muti, mugwagwa, mweya

Mupanda 4

Plural of class 3

mi-

Examples

miti, migwagwa

Mupanda 5

Singular nouns

ri-

Examples

garwe

Mupanda 6

Plural nouns

ma-

Examples

makarwe

Mupanda 7

Instruments, languages and objects

chi-

Examples

chikoro, chigaro

Mupanda 8

Plural of class 7

zvi-

zv-

Examples

zvikoro, zvana

Mupanda 9

Animals and miscellaneous nouns

N-

Examples

mombe, hama

Mupanda 10

Plural of class 9

dzi-

Examples

dzimba

Mupanda 11

Long thin objects

ru-

rw-

Examples

rukova, rwiyo

Mupanda 12

Diminutive nouns

ka-

Examples

katsuro

Mupanda 13

Plural diminutives

tu-

twu-

Examples

tukomana, twukomana

Mupanda 14

Abstract and mass nouns

hu-

hw-

Examples

upfu, hupenzi, hwahwa

Mupanda 15

Infinitive verbal nouns

ku-

Examples

kufamba

Mupanda 16

Locative nouns

pa-

Examples

panze

Mupanda 17

Locative nouns

ku-

Examples

kure

Mupanda 17a

Locative nouns

Ø-

Examples

zasi

Mupanda 18

Interior locative nouns

mu-

Examples

mudanga

Mupanda 19

Special noun class

svi-

sv-

Examples

svimuto, svana

Mupanda 21

Rare noun class

zi-

Examples

Zigadzi