mukadzi
The Shona word for wife is mukadzi.
The term mukadzi is used to refer to a female partner in a marriage. To specify your own spouse, you use the phrase mukadzi wangu to say 'my wife'.
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, mukadzi means 'woman'.
Which one should you use?
While mukadzi is used for wife (literally 'woman'), the word murume is used for husband (literally 'man').
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of mukadzi is vakadzi.
Did you know?
- In traditional Shona culture, a 'wife' is often referred to as muroora, which literally means 'daughter-in-law'. This reflects the social bond between the bride and her husband's family.
- In Shona culture, the process of marrying a mukadzi traditionally involves roora, a bride price paid by the groom to the bride's family.
- The root of mukadzi is linked to the Proto-Bantu word *mʊ̀kádí, which connects it to a vast family of languages across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Examples in context
- Mukadzi wangu anofara.My wife is happy.
- Mukadzi wako anogara pano?Does your wife live here?
- Ndinoda mukadzi anozvipira.I want a devoted wife.
Example conversation
Kudzai introduces his spouse to Ruvimbo.
- KudzaiRuvimbo, uyu ndiwo mukadzi wangu.Ruvimbo, this is my wife.
- RuvimboKudzai, ndinofara kukumuchai.Kudzai, I am glad to meet her.
- KudzaiMukadzi wangu anoda kukuzivaiwo.My wife also wants to know you.
- RuvimboNdinofara zvikuru kukazivai.I am very happy to know you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mukadzi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mukadzi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
