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Definition of mbuna

mbuna

/əmˈbuːnə/
mbu · na
Plural:mbuna
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mbuna Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of a large group of small, vibrantly colored, rock-dwelling cichlid fishes native exclusively to Lake Malawi in East Africa, highly popular in the freshwater aquarium hobby.

Example

"To successfully keep a tank of aggressive mbuna, the aquarist built an extensive network of caves using limestone rocks."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mbuna

• Rhymes for mbuna

• Nearby Words

mba
mbabane
mbomou
mbuna
mcallen
mcarthur
mcarthur river

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from the Tonga language of Malawi, where it translates to 'rockfish', referring to the natural habitat of these fishes among the rocky shores of Lake Malawi.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mbuna. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mbuna
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