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Zimbabwe

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: zimbabwe

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Zimbabwe

Etymology

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Etymology tree
Proto-Bantu *mbá
Shona imbá
Proto-Bantu *ìbʊ̀è
Shona ibwe
Shona dzimba-dze-mabweder.
English Zimbabwe

    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“houses of stones”) (see imba (“house”), ibwe (“stone”)), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

    [edit]
    Request for audio pronunciation This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.
    Particularly: "a Zimbabwe native speaking"

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    2. A country in Southern Africa. Official name: Republic of Zimbabwe. Formerly called Southern Rhodesia or Rhodesia.
      • 2009 June 17, Blessing-Miles Tendi, “Tsvangirai's dicey strategy”, in The Guardian‎[3]:
        According to Ncube, the MDC believed, from 2000, that Britain's interest in Zimbabwe had more to do with concern for white farmers than black Zimbabweans.

    Hypernyms

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    Translations

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    See also

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    countries in Africa (appendix)edit

    Afrikaans

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    Afrikaans Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia af

    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa; capital: Harare)

    Derived terms

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    Chichewa

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    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbábwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Czech

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    Czech Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia cs

    Etymology

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    Derived from Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe n (indeclinable, relational adjective zimbabwský, demonym Zimbabwan)

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Further reading

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    Dutch

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    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˌzɪmˈbɑp.ʋə/, /ˌzɪmˈbɑ.bʋə/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Hyphenation: Zim‧bab‧we

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe n

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Derived terms

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    Finnish

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    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”).

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈtsimbɑbwe/, [ˈts̠imbɑ̝bwe̞]
    • Rhymes: -imbɑbwe
    • Syllabification(key): Zim‧bab‧we
    • Hyphenation(key): Zim‧bab‧we

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)
      Zimbabwen tasavalta ― Republic of Zimbabwe

    Declension

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    Inflection of Zimbabwe (Kotus type 8/nalle, no gradation)
    nominative Zimbabwe —
    genitive Zimbabwen —
    partitive Zimbabwea —
    illative Zimbabween —
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwe —
    accusative nom. Zimbabwe —
    gen. Zimbabwen
    genitive Zimbabwen —
    partitive Zimbabwea —
    inessive Zimbabwessa —
    elative Zimbabwesta —
    illative Zimbabween —
    adessive Zimbabwella —
    ablative Zimbabwelta —
    allative Zimbabwelle —
    essive Zimbabwena —
    translative Zimbabweksi —
    abessive Zimbabwetta —
    instructive — —
    comitative See the possessive forms below.
    Possessive forms of Zimbabwe (Kotus type 8/nalle, no gradation)
    first-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabweni —
    accusative nom. Zimbabweni —
    gen. Zimbabweni
    genitive Zimbabweni —
    partitive Zimbabweani —
    inessive Zimbabwessani —
    elative Zimbabwestani —
    illative Zimbabweeni —
    adessive Zimbabwellani —
    ablative Zimbabweltani —
    allative Zimbabwelleni —
    essive Zimbabwenani —
    translative Zimbabwekseni —
    abessive Zimbabwettani —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    second-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwesi —
    accusative nom. Zimbabwesi —
    gen. Zimbabwesi
    genitive Zimbabwesi —
    partitive Zimbabweasi —
    inessive Zimbabwessasi —
    elative Zimbabwestasi —
    illative Zimbabweesi —
    adessive Zimbabwellasi —
    ablative Zimbabweltasi —
    allative Zimbabwellesi —
    essive Zimbabwenasi —
    translative Zimbabweksesi —
    abessive Zimbabwettasi —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    first-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwemme —
    accusative nom. Zimbabwemme —
    gen. Zimbabwemme
    genitive Zimbabwemme —
    partitive Zimbabweamme —
    inessive Zimbabwessamme —
    elative Zimbabwestamme —
    illative Zimbabweemme —
    adessive Zimbabwellamme —
    ablative Zimbabweltamme —
    allative Zimbabwellemme —
    essive Zimbabwenamme —
    translative Zimbabweksemme —
    abessive Zimbabwettamme —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    second-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwenne —
    accusative nom. Zimbabwenne —
    gen. Zimbabwenne
    genitive Zimbabwenne —
    partitive Zimbabweanne —
    inessive Zimbabwessanne —
    elative Zimbabwestanne —
    illative Zimbabweenne —
    adessive Zimbabwellanne —
    ablative Zimbabweltanne —
    allative Zimbabwellenne —
    essive Zimbabwenanne —
    translative Zimbabweksenne —
    abessive Zimbabwettanne —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    third-person possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwensa —
    accusative nom. Zimbabwensa —
    gen. Zimbabwensa
    genitive Zimbabwensa —
    partitive Zimbabweaan
    Zimbabweansa     		—
    inessive Zimbabwessaan
    Zimbabwessansa     		—
    elative Zimbabwestaan
    Zimbabwestansa     		—
    illative Zimbabweensa —
    adessive Zimbabwellaan
    Zimbabwellansa     		—
    ablative Zimbabweltaan
    Zimbabweltansa     		—
    allative Zimbabwelleen
    Zimbabwellensa     		—
    essive Zimbabwenaan
    Zimbabwenansa     		—
    translative Zimbabwekseen
    Zimbabweksensa     		—
    abessive Zimbabwettaan
    Zimbabwettansa     		—
    instructive — —
    comitative — —

    Derived terms

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    Hungarian

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     Zimbabwe on Hungarian Wikipedia
    Zimbabwe

    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): [ˈzimbɒbvɛ]
    • Hyphenation: Zim‧bab‧we
    • Rhymes: -vɛ

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Declension

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    Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwe —
    accusative Zimbabwét —
    dative Zimbabwénak —
    instrumental Zimbabwéval —
    causal-final Zimbabwéért —
    translative Zimbabwévá —
    terminative Zimbabwéig —
    essive-formal Zimbabweként —
    essive-modal — —
    inessive Zimbabwéban —
    superessive Zimbabwén —
    adessive Zimbabwénál —
    illative Zimbabwéba —
    sublative Zimbabwéra —
    allative Zimbabwéhoz —
    elative Zimbabwéból —
    delative Zimbabwéról —
    ablative Zimbabwétól —
    non-attributive
    possessive – singular     		Zimbabwéé —
    non-attributive
    possessive – plural     		Zimbabwééi —
    Possessive forms of Zimbabwe
    possessor single possession multiple possessions
    1st person sing. Zimbabwém —
    2nd person sing. Zimbabwéd —
    3rd person sing. Zimbabwéja —
    1st person plural Zimbabwénk —
    2nd person plural Zimbabwétok —
    3rd person plural Zimbabwéjuk —

    or somewhat less commonly

    Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, front unrounded harmony)
    singular plural
    nominative Zimbabwe —
    accusative Zimbabwét —
    dative Zimbabwének —
    instrumental Zimbabwével —
    causal-final Zimbabwéért —
    translative Zimbabwévé —
    terminative Zimbabwéig —
    essive-formal Zimbabweként —
    essive-modal — —
    inessive Zimbabwében —
    superessive Zimbabwén —
    adessive Zimbabwénél —
    illative Zimbabwébe —
    sublative Zimbabwére —
    allative Zimbabwéhez —
    elative Zimbabwéből —
    delative Zimbabwéről —
    ablative Zimbabwétől —
    non-attributive
    possessive – singular     		Zimbabwéé —
    non-attributive
    possessive – plural     		Zimbabwééi —
    Possessive forms of Zimbabwe
    possessor single possession multiple possessions
    1st person sing. Zimbabwém —
    2nd person sing. Zimbabwéd —
    3rd person sing. Zimbabwéje —
    1st person plural Zimbabwénk —
    2nd person plural Zimbabwétek —
    3rd person plural Zimbabwéjük —

    Derived terms

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    See also

    [edit]
    countries in Africa: Afrika országai (appendix)edit

    Indonesian

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    Indonesian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia id

    Etymology

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    Derived from Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    See also

    [edit]
    countries in Africa: negara-negara di Afrika (appendix)edit

    Further reading

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    Italian

    [edit]
    Italian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia it

    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): */d͡zimˈba.bwe/, (traditional) */d͡zimˈba.bu.e/[1]
    • Rhymes: -abwe, (traditional) -abue
    • Hyphenation: Zim‧bàb‧we

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe m

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Derived terms

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    References

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    1. ^ Zimbabwe in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)

    Norwegian Bokmål

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    Norwegian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia no
    The flag of Zimbabwe.
    Zimbabwe in Africa.
    Part of the Great Enclosure at Great Zimbabwe.

    Etymology

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    Internationalism, based on Shona Zimbabwe, from Shona dzimbahwe (“stone house; houses of stone”), the name associated with the ruined stone city now commonly known as Great Zimbabwe. Compare Shona dzimba (“houses”), the plural of imba (“house”), and mabwe (“stones”), the plural of ibwe (“stone”). Although dzimbahwe is understood today as “houses of stone”, historical sources indicate that in the 16th century the word referred more specifically to the home, court and grave of a ruler. The modern state took the name Zimbabwe at independence in 1980, after the ruined city.

    Parallel international forms include Norwegian Nynorsk Zimbabwe, Danish Zimbabwe, Swedish Zimbabwe, Dutch Zimbabwe, German Simbabwe and English Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /¹sɪmˈbab.ʋe/, [sɪmˈbàb.ʋe]
    • Rhymes: -abʋe
    • Hyphenation: Zim‧bab‧we

    Proper noun

    [edit]

    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe; a country in Southern Africa, Africa, a landlocked state with Harare as its capital.
      Hun reiste gjennom Zimbabwe på vei fra Botswana til Mosambik. ― She travelled through Zimbabwe on her way from Botswana to Mozambique.
      • 2026 June 25, Mikal Hem and Elling Tjønneland, “Zimbabwe”, in Store norske leksikon‎[4]:
        Zimbabwe ligger i det sørlige Afrika, på et platå mellom 1200 og 1600 meter over havet.
        Zimbabwe lies in southern Africa, on a plateau between 1,200 and 1,600 metres above sea level.
    2. Great Zimbabwe; a ruined city in Zimbabwe, southeast of Masvingo, whose ruins gave their name to the modern country.
      De gamle steinmurene i Zimbabwe er blant de mest kjente kulturminnene i det sørlige Afrika. ― The ancient stone walls of Zimbabwe are among the best-known cultural monuments in southern Africa.
      • 2025 February 21, Axel Sommerfelt, “Zimbabwe – ruinsted”, in Store norske leksikon‎[5]:
        Zimbabwe er en ruinby sørøst for Masvingo (tidligere Fort Victoria) i Zimbabwe.
        Zimbabwe is a ruined city southeast of Masvingo (formerly Fort Victoria) in Zimbabwe.

    Usage notes

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    • Språkrådet's list of state names gives the official Norwegian Bokmål long-form name as Republikken Zimbabwe (“the Republic of Zimbabwe”).[1]
    • The ruined-city sense is also known as Stor-Zimbabwe and by the English name Great Zimbabwe.[2]

    Derived terms

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    See also

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    countries in Africa: land i Afrika (appendix)edit

    References

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    1. ^ “Navn på stater”, in Språkrådet‎[1], 12 August 2026 (last accessed)
    2. ^ “Zimbabwe – ruinsted”, in Store norske leksikon‎[2], 12 August 2026 (last accessed)

    Norwegian Nynorsk

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    Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia nn

    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)
    [edit]

    Polish

    [edit]
    Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia pl

    Etymology

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    Orthographic borrowing from English Zimbabwe, from Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /zimˈba.bvɛ/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Rhymes: -abvɛ
    • Syllabification: Zim‧bab‧we

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe n (indeclinable, related adjective zimbabwejski or zimbabweński)

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Derived terms

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    nouns

    See also

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    countries in Africa: państwa Afryki (appendix)edit

    Further reading

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    • “Zimbabwe”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[6] (in Polish)

    Portuguese

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    Etymology

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    Unadapted borrowing from English Zimbabwe, from Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe m

    1. alternative form of Zimbabué: Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Shona

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    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbábwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    Slovak

    [edit]
    Slovak Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia sk

    Etymology

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    Derived from Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe n (genitive singular Zimbabwe)

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    References

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    • “Zimbabwe”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026

    Swahili

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    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)

    See also

    [edit]
    countries in Africa: nchi za Afrika (appendix)edit

    Swedish

    [edit]
    Swedish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia sv

    Etymology

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    From Shona dzimba-dze-mabwe (“house of stones”), in reference to Great Zimbabwe.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Zimbabwe n (genitive Zimbabwes)

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)
    [edit]

    See also

    [edit]
    countries in Africa: Afrikas länder (appendix)edit

    References

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    Tsonga

    [edit]

    Noun

    [edit]

    Zimbabwe

    1. Zimbabwe (a country in Southern Africa)
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