Nzara (hunger, famine) chino chinonzwikwa nemunhu kana chukka kana kwapera nguva yakareba pasina kudya zvidyo. Izwi rokuti nzara rinoshandiswawo kutaura nguva yokunge munyika musina chokudya nokuda kwezvikonzero zvinosanganisira: kusanaya kwemvura; kusarima kwakakwana; kufa kwezvirimwa nekuda kwehudyi kana mafashamo emvura, zvichingodaro. VaSwahili vanoti zia (waste away, wither, shrink, languish) kureva kuziya nenzara. Mambwe vanoti kuvwa inzala (to be hungry, to feel hungry) kunzwa nzara. VaSango vanoti nzala kureva nzara. VaGiryama vanoti ndzala (scarcity) kureva nzara. Mamwe Mazwi: gumbo (hunger, famine) kureva nzala huru. VaBemba vanoti nsala (Hunger, Famine, Appetite) kureva nzara. VaRwanda vanoti gusonza (to be hungry).