great zimbabwe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Very Low Frequency)Formal; Academic (History, Archaeology, Geography); Occasionally journalistic in travel or cultural contexts.
Quick answer
What does “great zimbabwe” mean?
The name of a medieval city and the monumental stone ruins in southeastern Zimbabwe, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the Late Iron Age.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of a medieval city and the monumental stone ruins in southeastern Zimbabwe, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the Late Iron Age.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest pre-colonial stone structure complex in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a potent national symbol of Zimbabwe and a key archaeological site for understanding Shona civilization and trade networks in southern Africa from the 11th to the 15th centuries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciation differences are minor and follow standard British/American patterns for the component words.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects: historical, archaeological, cultural heritage.
Frequency
Equally low and specialized in both dialects, appearing in similar academic, documentary, and travel contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “great zimbabwe” in a Sentence
Great Zimbabwe + [verb: was built, flourished, declined][verb: Visit, Study] + Great ZimbabweGreat Zimbabwe, + [which...]the + ruins/structures/site + of + Great ZimbabweVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great zimbabwe” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The kingdom that Great Zimbabwe centred prospered from gold trade.
- [No distinct phrasal verb usage]
American English
- The civilization that Great Zimbabwe anchored controlled regional trade.
- [No distinct phrasal verb usage]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The Great Zimbabwe period is a key era in southern African history.
- Great Zimbabwe archaeology reveals sophisticated statecraft.
American English
- Great Zimbabwe studies are a major part of African archaeology programs.
- Great Zimbabwe-era artifacts are displayed in the museum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism or cultural heritage management (e.g., 'promoting Great Zimbabwe as a tourist destination').
Academic
Primary context. Used in archaeology, African history, art history, and anthropology papers.
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in travel discussions or documentaries.
Technical
Specific to archaeology and history, detailing construction techniques, chronology, and material culture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great zimbabwe”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great zimbabwe”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great zimbabwe”
- Writing in lower case ('great zimbabwe').
- Using 'Zimbabwe' alone to mean the ruins when the context is ambiguous.
- Mispronouncing the final syllable as '-bway' in British contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It refers specifically to the historical archaeological site. The modern Republic of Zimbabwe is named after this site.
It derives from the Shona phrase 'dzimba dzemabwe', meaning 'houses of stone', referring to the stone enclosures and ruins.
The 'Great' distinguishes the largest and most impressive complex from over 200 smaller, similar stone ruins (often called 'zimbabwes') found in the region.
Yes. It is a national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site located near the town of Masvingo in Zimbabwe, open to tourists and researchers.
The name of a medieval city and the monumental stone ruins in southeastern Zimbabwe, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the Late Iron Age.
Great zimbabwe is usually formal; academic (history, archaeology, geography); occasionally journalistic in travel or cultural contexts. in register.
Great zimbabwe: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt zɪmˈbɑːbwi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated. Figuratively, can represent ancient African achievement or a fallen civilization.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Great' stones built a 'ZIMBABWE' kingdom long before the modern country existed. Link 'Zim' to 'stone' (from Shona 'dzimba dzemabwe' meaning 'houses of stone').
Conceptual Metaphor
A STONE TEXT (something from which we read/learn history); A FADED CROWN (symbol of past power and sovereignty).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Great Zimbabwe' primarily known as?