… (and a few birds)
This list of words includes all common animals and a few of the many birds with special names and significance ngesiZulu. Words marked with a * are borrowed from other languages. Words marked with ** are significant for idiom and proverbs.
Human | Simple Solids | Simple Fluids | Complex Solids |
| unogwaja** rabbit, small hare | umgankla koodoo | idube zebra | isilwane animal |
| upholi* parrot | umbiba** striped field-mouse | ihhashi* horse | isinambuzane insect |
| uchakide** slender mongoose | umhlangala South African mongoose | ikati* cat | isikhova** owl |
| ugcololo slender mongoose | umvundla** large hare | igundane** rat, rodent | isibhudu red hare |
| umbonjane mongoose | umkhombe white rhino | ihloloda / ikloloda white-tailed mongoose | isibankwa lizard |
| unziphondo spring-hare | umduzu white rhino | intenesha** red hare | isigcilikisha lizard |
| ukhothetsheni rock-lizard | umsundu earthworm | ibhubesi lion | isihuhwa crowned eagle |
| uxamu** monitor lizard | umkhomo whale | igqimilili blue-headed lizard | isithwalambiza mantis |
| uklebe hawk | umkhoma whale | ivondwe cane-rat | isicabucabu spider |
| uzavolo nightjar | umkhomazi female whale | ijuba** dove | isibungu** maggot |
| umathebe sparrow-hawk | ivukuthu pigeon | isilo beast, intestinal worm | |
| ubhejane** black rhino | iphela** cockroach | isibhelu tambourine dove | |
| ukhanyikhanyi glow-worm | icimbi caterpillar | isiphikeleli Natal Kingfisher | |
| unkombose** Namaqua Dove | idada duck | isiquba / isiqula pied kingfisher | |
| unongozolo brown-hooded kingfisher | ihansi* goose | isivuba giant kingfisher | |
| uzangozolo Natal kingfisher | ikalikuni* turkey | isixula half-collared kingfisher | |
| unogolantethe stork | igusha sheep | ||
| ihlengethwa dolphin, porpoise | |||
| ihobhe dove | |||
| ijubantondo green dove | |||
| ijubantendele rock pigeon | |||
| ihlolamvula swift | |||
| ija swift | |||
| ingangomfula Natal Kingfisher | |||
| idlankumbi stork | |||
| inqe** vulture | |||
| igwababa** crow | |||
| ilulwane bat |
Seasonal | Complex Fluids  | Abstract | Actions |
| inkomo** cow (gender-neutral) | unwabu** chameleon | ubucubu waxbill | none! |
| inkunzi** bull | ukhozi** eagle | ubuhayi banded mongoose | |
| inkomazi cow (female) | uheshe falcon | ububheva banded mongoose | |
| inkabi** ox | ulwembu spider | ububhibhi meerkat | |
| inja** dog | uvemvane butterfly | ubuhala meerkat | |
| inyoni** bird | |||
| inyosi** bee | |||
| inyoka** snake | |||
| inyathi** buffalo | |||
| inkulumane white rhino | |||
| imbube lion | |||
| ingonyama lion | |||
| ingwe** leopard | |||
| ingulule cheetah | |||
| inyamazane** antelope | |||
| impofu** eland | |||
| imvubu** hippo | |||
| impunzi** duiker | |||
| inhlanzi** fish | |||
| ingwenya** crocodile | |||
| imbulu** rock-lizard | |||
| indlulamithi giraffe | |||
| indlovu** elephant | |||
| ingulube** pig | |||
| inkukhu** chicken | |||
| imbuzi** goat | |||
| imvu sheep | |||
| imbongolo donkey | |||
| imbodla** wild-cat | |||
| impaka** cat | |||
| intulo** lizard | |||
| impukane** fly | |||
| intuthwane ant | |||
| inhloli meerkat, hedgehog | |||
| inkankane hadeda | |||
| ingababa white stork | |||
| intendele pheasant | |||
| imbumbazane tambourine dove | |||
| impangele** guinea-fowl | |||
| inkonjane** swallow | |||
| inkotha bee-eater | |||
| imfigogo kingfisher | |||
| indwazela brown-hooded kingfisher | |||
| imbuyelelo malachite kingfisher | |||
| impethu** worm |
What do you notice about this list? Which noun-classes have a lot of borrowed words for this particular vocabulary-set? Listen to the recordings (coming soon!) to hear how the words sound and get a few more tips.
If there are words missing from this list, please let us know!