In the years that we have run programmes in schools, we have learned that there are no unique names for each of the owls in languages such as isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. We learned that the Pedi name for all these owl species is Lerubise and the Zulu name for all these owls is isiKhova.

This was not helpful to them when we were teaching children about owls. This is a learner-led initiative that we have been running since 2012. To date, we now have 13 schools that cover all the provinces of South Africa. So far, Children from Marlboro Secondary School and Zenzeleni participate by going through a fact sheet of the birds, including their pictures and an owl naming guideline. The children have come up with names that they think are suitable.

All of the names have been given to all the 12 species of owls found in South Africa in various languages.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) in Sesotho/Sepedi, Zulu, Tsonga and Xhosa.

 

Barn owl in Sesotho/Sepedi: Tšoeu Tiya.

 
Pronounced: Tsh- we-wu-tee-ya.

Barn Owl in Zulu: Isikhova Esinamabala amnyama Ngaphambili.

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-Ee-si-na-ma ba-la-aa-mm-nyaa-maa-nga-p-ha-m-bi-li.

Barn Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Esimhlophe esinamachokoza amyama.

Pronounced: E-si-co-va-Ee-si-m-t-hl-lo-p-he-E-si-na-ma-Choo-co-za-a-mm-nya-ma.

Barn Owl in Tsonga: Xhikhovha Xale-nhlangasini.

Pronounced: Shi-co-va-Sha-le-cla-ga-see-nee.

Spotted Eagle Owl(Bubo africanus) in Sesotho, Zulu, Tsonga and Xhosa.

Spotted Eagle Owl in SeSotho/ Sepedi: Botlenyana.
 

 
Pronounced: Boo-hlee-nyaa-na.

Spotted Eagle Owl in Zulu: Isikhova Esinamabala-bala.

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-Ee-si-na-ma-ba-la-ba-la.

Spotted Eagle Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Sokhozi Esimibala-bala.

 
Pronounced: E-si-co-va so-co-zi-E-si-mi-ba-la-ba-la.

Spotted Eagle Owl in Tsonga: Xhikhovha-gama xaswitwavitwavi.
 

 
Pronounced: Shi-co-va-ga-ma-Sha-swee-twa-vee-twa-vee.

Pearl Spotted Owl (Glaucidium perlatum) in Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Tsonga.

Pearl Spotted Owl in SeSotho/ Sepedi: Sephookonyana.

Pronounced: Se-Phoo-Ko-nya-na.

Pearl Spotted Owl in Zulu: Isikhova Esincane.

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-Ee-si-n- ca-ne.

Pearl Spotted Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Esinamachokoza Amhlophe Esincinci.

Pronounced: E-si-co-va E-si-na-ma-choo-co-za Aa-mu-tlo-phe Ee-Si-nx'i-nx'i.

Pearl Spotted Owl in Tsonga: Xikhovhana xamitwavitwavi.

Pronounced: Shi-n-co-va-na-Sha-mi-twa-vee-twa-vee.

African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis)in Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Tsonga.

 

African Grass Owl in SeSotho/Sepedi: Sephooko Sa Jwang.

Pronounced: Se-Phoo-Ko-Sa-J-waa-ng.

African Grass Owl in Zulu: Isikhova Soshani.

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-So-N-sha-ni.

African Grass Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Sencica Sa se Afrika.

Pronounced: E-si-co-va-Se-nx'i nx'a-Sa-Se- A-fri-ka.

African Grass Owl in Tsonga: Xikhovha-Xale Byanyi.

Pronounced: Shi-co-va-Le-Sha-Le- byaa-yi.

 
Marsh Owl in SeSotho/Sepedi: Sephoko Sa tuteng.

Owl Project · Marsh Owl In Sesotho

Pronounced: Se-Phoo-Ko-Sa-tu-tee-ng.

 

Marsh Owl in Zulu: Isokhova Sa se Maxhaphozini.

Owl Project · Marsh Owl In Zulu

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-Sa-Se-Ma-X'ha-pho-zi-ni.

 

Marsh Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Sasemigxobozweni esinomabala omdaka.

Owl Project · Marsh OWl In Xhosa

Pronounced: E-si-co-va-Sa-Se-me-x'o-bo-zwe-ni-E-si-no-ma-ba-la-O-m-da-ka.

 

Marsh Owl in Tsonga: Xinkhova xale-nhlangasini xatimhondzho.

Owl Project · Marsh Owl In Tsonga

Pronounced: Shi-nco-va-Le-She-le-n-cl-a-nga-si-Ni-xa-ti-m-hon-d-zho.

 

African Scops Owl(Otus senegalensis)in Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Tsonga.

 

African Scops Owl in SeSotho/ Sepedi: Sephooko sa bohola.

Owl Project · African Scops Owl In Sesotho

Pronounced: Se-Phoo-Ko-sa-bo-ho-la.

African Scops Owl in Zulu: Isikhova sa se Afrika esineminqa emnyama.

Owl Project · African Scops Owl In Zulu

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-Ee-si-ne-mi-nca e-m-nya-ma.

 

 African Scops Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Esineningca emnyama sa se Afrika.

Owl Project · African Scops Owl In Xhosa

Pronounced: E-si-co-va E-see-ne-ni-ng-ka e-m-nya-ma-sa-se-A-fri-ka.

African Scops Owl in Tsonga: Xinkhova Xale-Afrika Xatimhondzho.

Owl Project · African Scops Owl In Tsonga

Pronounced: Shi-co-va-sha-le-A-fri-ka-Sha-ti-m-ho-n-d-z-h-o.

 

African Barred Owl(Glaucidium capense)in Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Tsonga. 

 

African Barred Owl in SeSotho/ Sepedi: Tshehla.

Owl Project · African Barred Owl In Sesotho.

 
Pronounced: T-s-hee-tl-aa-h.

 

African Barred Owl in Zulu: Isikhova sa se Afrika esinemibala-bala ngaphaphambili.

Owl Project · African Barred Owl In Zulu

 
Pronounced: E-se-co-vaa-e-Si-ne-me-ba-la-nga-p-ha-m-bi-li.

 

African Barred Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Esinamachokoza Amhlophe Esincinci.

Owl Project · African Barred Owl In Xhosa

 
Pronounced: E-se-co-va E-si-na-ma-choo-co-za Aa-mu-t-lo-phe Ee-See-nx'i-nx'i.

 

African Barred Owl in Tsonga: Xikhovha-lesintsongo xaswitwavitwavi.

Owl Project · African Barred Owl In Tsonga

 
Pronounced: She-co-va-Le-She-ntso-n'go-Sha-swee-twa-vee-twa-vee.

Cape Eagle Owl(Bubo capensis)in Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Tsonga.

 

Cape Eagle Owl in SeSotho/ Sepedi: Sephooko Se setsho.

Owl Project · Cape Eagle Owl In Sesotho

 
Pronounced: Se-P-hoo-ko-Se-Se-t-s-ho.

 

Cape Eagle Owl in Zulu: Isikhova sokhozi.

Owl Project · Cape Eagle Owl In Zulu

 
Pronounced: E-si-co-va-So-k-ho-zi.

 

Cape Eagle Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova Esilukhozi sa se koloni.

Owl Project · Cape Eagle Owl In Xhosa

 
Pronounced: E-si-co-va E-si-lu-k-ho-zi-sa-se-Ko-lo-ni.

 

Cape Eagle Owl in Tsonga: Xinkhovha-gama xale-kapa.

Owl Project · Cape Eagle Owl In Tsonga

 
Pronounced: Shi-n-co-v-ha-ga-ma.

Verreaux Eagle Owl(Bubo lacteus) in Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Tsonga.

Verreaux Eagle Owl in SeSotho/ Sepedi: Kgosi Lephooko.

Pronounced: K-go-si-le-p-hoo-ko.

Verreaux Eagle Owl in Zulu: Isikhova Esikhulu.

Pronounced: E-si-co-vaa-Ee-si-k-hu-lu.

Verreaux Eagle Owl in Xhosa: Isikhova sokhozi esikhulu sa se Afrika .

Pronounced: E-si-co-va-So-k-ho-zi-E-si-k-hu-lu-Sa-se-A-fri-ka.

Verreaux Eagle Owl in Tsonga: Xikhovha-nkulu.

Pronounced: Shi-co-va-n-ku-lu.