Nicknames and localisms

[JGH]

Is there a glossary somewhere of all of the nicknames and local names of the animals of Africa?

For example, Simba for lion, etc.?

 

[steve white]

Nyati, and Narri for buffalo
Chui for leopard

 

[RedTag]

Mukiwa

 

[dchum]

I’ve always been fascinated with the old French west Africa hunting and still modern day in Cameroon and C.A.R etc etc

So the French call the local harnessed bushbuck “Le Guib ”. Another is “Le Koba” a general term of Kob or even roan I’ve seen in old French naturalist descriptions and writings.

I love the Frenchies love of hunting and west Africa is a dream of mine I know I will make happen one day.

 

[grand veneur]

It is difficult because all these animals have very different names in the various languages of the former colonialist, and then there are the many local African languages to consider. The most common African names for wild animals that all knows come from Swahili, but this language was primarily used in East Africa and partly in the south.

 

[dchum]

It is difficult because all these animals have very different names in the various languages of the former colonialist, and then there are the many local African languages to consider. The most common African names for wild animals that all knows come from Swahili, but this language was primarily used in East Africa and partly in the south.

I’m sure you know some more local ones from west Africa, as I know you spent time in that part of the world hunting.

Please do share

 

[grand veneur]

Almost everything has a different name in French, and that are the only names locals of west and central Africa understand.

For example: Le cobe Defassa/Waterbuck, le cobe des roseaux ou simplement le redunca/Reedbuck, cobe de Buffon/West African kob, le Koba en Fufulde, l'Hippotrague en Français /Roan, le bubale/Hartebeest, le guib harnaché/Bushbuck,...

 

[DieJager]

Another is “Le Koba” a general term of Kob or even roan I’ve seen in old French naturalist descriptions and writings

The Western Roan is called Koba. Just under two months and I'll be trying for one in Senegal. Also hopefully for the harnessed bushbuck.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Some ones that got me in Afrikaans
- Roan = bastergemsbok
- Cheetah = jagluiperd
- Impala = rooibok

Usually they just say it in English, but I got told a funny story about the “bastergemsbok” and how someone mistakenly shot a Roan because they were with a tracker that only spoke Afrikaans and Tswana while out looking for gemsbok (oryx).

 

[dchum]

The Western Roan is called Koba. Just under two months and I'll be trying for one in Senegal. Also hopefully for the harnessed bushbuck.

Wow! I can’t wait for that report. I would love details now but I know you will do a great write up. I’m am teeming with jealousy

 

[TSIBINDI]

Impala
Shona: mhara
Ndebele: impala

Waterbuck
Shona: dhumukwa
Nedebele: isidumuka

Reedbuck
Shona: bimha
Ndebele: umziki

Giraffe
Shona: twiza
Ndebele: intundla

Hippo
Shona: mvuu
Ndebele: imbubu

Zebra
Shona: mbizi
Ndebele: idube

Leopard
Shona: mbada
Ndebele: ingwe

Lion
Shona: shumba
Ndebele: isilwane

Elephant
Shona: nzou
Ndebele: indlovu


From the Bundu Series: WILD MAMMALS Dale Kenmuir and Russell Williams

 

[TSIBINDI]

I didn't spell the Ndebele word for hippo correctly. It should be imvubu.

Here's a few more.

Buffalo
Shona: nyati
Ndebele: inyathi

Kudu
Shona: nhoro
Ndebele: ibhalabhala

Sable
Shona: ngwarati
Ndebele: ingwaladi

Gemsbok
Shona: ?
Ndebele: ingugama

Spotted Hyaena
Shona: bere
Ndebele: impisi

Baboon
Shona: gudo
Ndebele: indwangu

 

[mdwest]

Nickname for Zebra: Pajama Donkey, Disco Pony

 

[fourfive8]

Zebra- African wild ass with a bar code

 

[Cheesehead]

M’bogo for the Cape buffalo

Courtesy of Zootopia the movie

 

[Kevin375]

I have never hunted in Burkina-Faso but some friends did before the tragic events. They told me trackers used to call very often baboons by the name Michel.

 

[grand veneur]

I have never hunted in Burkina-Faso but some friends did before the tragic events. They told me trackers used to call very often baboons by the name Michel.

I have hunted in Burkina Faso many times, but I have never heard of anything like that. It probably depends on the hunting area. There were several hunting camps in different areas. I hunted in the east of the country, in the areas Ouamou and Singou, Gourmantché country.

 

[DieJager]

Wow! I can’t wait for that report. I would love details now but I know you will do a great write up. I’m am teeming with jealousy

Thanks, I'll do my best and afterwards I can certainly share some more details.

 

[grand veneur]

I have never hunted in Burkina-Faso but some friends did before the tragic events. They told me trackers used to call very often baboons by the name Michel.

Do you know where they hunted?

A very well-known area was in the south, on the border of Ghana: the Ranch de Nazinga.

 

[Kevin375]

Do you know where they hunted?

A very well-known area was in the south, on the border of Ghana: the Ranch de Nazinga.

I'm not really sure about the name of the concession but the PH was Stéphane Binoist. I met him in 2015 in Namibia where I became his translator because his english was at that time really limited.
I heard Stéphane passed away in 2021.