Warar badan ayaa sheegaya in magaca "Zimbabwe" uu ka yimid dzimba-dza-mabwe, oo laga soo tarjumay lahjada Karanga ee Shona sida "guri dhagax" (dzimba = jamac imba, "guri"; mabwe = jamac bweanga, "dhagax"). Dadka Karanga-ku hadla Shona waxay ku nool yihiin agagaarka Great Zimbabwe ee gobolka casriga ah ee Masvingo. Archaeologist Garlake ayaa sheegtay in "Zimbabwe" ay ka dhigan tahay qaab qandaraas ah oo ka mid ah "guri-Matwewewe", oo ah magaalo burbursan oo qadiimi ah oo ku taal koonfurta-bari ee dalka oo haraadiga ay hadda yihiin goob la ilaaliyo. Laba aragtiyood oo kala duwan ayaa ka hadlaya asalka ereyga.
Djimbo-dza-mabwe