All Nyaudzosingwi

Figurative Expressions

• chacharakachaDescribes crossing a river or a stream that is full of water.
• chachararaVariant spelling of "chachama".
• chachariDescribes stamping repeatedly and forcefully on the ground, as someone dancing does. The drunkards danced to the drum stamping in this way as though they would split the house apart.
• chachavaDescribes being unable to walk. Example: a grown man went chachava, his legs seized by numbness.
• chachuDescribes cutting down dry stalks, such as cane stalks, with a hoe or with anything else one can cut with.
• chachuDescribes snatching food that is still on the fire, as a greedy person often does. "I took the meat from the pot when I saw that no one was watching me."
• chaduDescribes cutting something soft with a very sharp knife. Example: he was slicing tomatoes chadu.
• chai chaiDescribes swimming in the manner of fish in a pool.
• chaka-aDescribes pouring water over a person when they are not expecting it, so that they start from the cold.
• chaka chakaThe sound water makes when a person treads in a shallow place; also the sound of things worn as ornaments, usually on the legs, or of brass. Gourd rattles tied to the legs make this sound.
• chakachakaDescribes having the lips all smeared with fat after eating food rich in oil; also used of being soaked all over. Example: The cloths were found in the morning chakachaka with the urine the children had passed in the night. Compare tapa tapa.
• chakapitiDescribes taking hold of something and lifting it up at the same time.
• chakataUsed of things that are chakata: they are numerous and found everywhere.
• chaku chaku
• chakwa chakwaDescribes walking through shallow water or through mud. The cattle went about in the marshy places this way looking for water to drink.
• chakwata
• chambwaDescribes filling water all over the place, splashing it about.
• changinjaDescribes snatching from someone what they are holding, especially a weapon, by force.
• chanjamaDescribes being excessively high or excessively long, beyond what is fitting. Also describes refusing to do what one has been told to do.
• chanjandaraVariant spelling of "chachama".
• chanjanjaVariant spelling of "chanjama".
• chanyaVariant spelling of "chanyau".
• chanyauDescribes cutting something without first looking to see whether the place one is cutting is the right one.
• chanyuDescribes chewing something in the mouth with a slight noise.
• chapuSaid of a person who goes chapu: they have picked something up quickly.
• chapwaDescribes the rising into the air and the noise made by water when something such as a large stone has been thrown into it.
• chapwatiVariant spelling of "chapwa".
• charanjanjaVariant spelling of "chachama".
• chariDescribes passing over the top of something by leaping over it. Compare jari.
• charuVariant spelling of "chari".
• chataDescribes sleeping a sweet sleep. Example: if your ear troubles you, you cannot sleep chata.
• chatiDescribes the throwing of water up into the air by something that has been thrown into a pool.
• chavaDescribes denying what you are accused of or what you have been told to do. The murderer denied the offence before the court.
• chavanguDescribes chopping or cutting something deeply.
• chawaDescribes falling into water with such force that the water splashes up into the air.
• che che cheDescribes making a shrill, high-pitched noise, as birds or little creatures gathered together do.
• che-eDescribes spreading out a reed mat or other floor covering so that people can sit on it comfortably. Example: if you see women who have spread the mat out che-e, you know they are gossiping. Also describes cutting quickly with a very sharp knife: I cut him che-e on the cheek and left him streaming blood.
• checheDescribes things being equal to one another in size or in number. Compare gwedegwe, kweche.
• chechemaDescribes becoming confused in mind, to the point of not knowing what to do. The example ("When I heard about the cattle being stolen ...") is left unfinished.
• checheneDescribes removing something by cutting or scraping it off with a knife.
• chechengaDescribes the meeting or gathering together in one place of people who are related or who share some common undertaking. Example: At the New Year holiday the grandchildren were gathered chechenga at their grandmother's home, celebrating.
• chechepfuDescribes biting into something soft that is not hard to chew.
• checherereDescribes bringing a bicycle that was travelling very fast to a sudden stop.
• chechetereDescribes things being even and matching one another in height or length. Example: The people's heads were all level chechetere in the bus.
• checheuVariant spelling of "chechene".
• chechuDescribes remembering something important that one had forgotten.
• chedebuDescribes chopping or biting something so as to take off its skin. Also used of the opening of the genitals of a girl who has not yet slept with a man.
• chedzuDescribes the appearance of a great light for a brief moment, as flashing lightning does.
• cheeneneDescribes looking back quickly over what is behind you, with a startled manner. Also describes calling to mind something you had forgotten.
• chehenuVariant spelling of "cheenene".
• chekeThe repeated rattling of something that has been shaken so that it knocks against whatever is close to it.
• cheke chekeVariant spelling of "cheke".
• chekecheVariant spelling of "cheke".
• chekepfuDescribes biting into something soft with the teeth.
• chekucheDescribes the breaking of daylight. Example: day had gone chekuche just as we opened our eyes.
• chenaDescribes the baring of the teeth outward, as a dog does when it wants to bite another dog.
• chendaDescribes sitting down on one's buttocks, usually done by a person who has been carried on the back. Compare dzvenda.
• chenguDescribes looking at someone with a sly, deceiving eye; a person who says chengu has cast such a glance. Example: my sister-in-law gave me a chengu look with her eye when I told her I loved her.
• chenuDescribes the fading of colour on a garment or household article. Example: my shirt has gone chenu from the sun.
• chenuruVariant spelling of "chenu".
• chenyenguDescribes the skin coming away so that what lies beneath is exposed. Example: he was cut chenyengu with a razor and was left with a wound.
• chepfenyuDescribes biting off a chunk of something and leaving the rest behind.
• cherenguDescribes injuring someone or something so that a visible wound or scar is left behind.
• chesuDescribes the dryness of the mouth caused by hunger or thirst. Example: he spent the whole day with his mouth just chesu while others drank beer.
• chetu
• cheuDescribes glancing back quickly over one's shoulder. Example: I glanced back when I heard footsteps behind me.
• chevhuDescribes cutting deeply with a sharp instrument. Example: he was cut chevhu on the arm with a razor.
• chezuDescribes the kindling of a big fire. Example: as soon as they got the fire going chezu, all the pots came to the boil.
• chi chi chiDescribes a group of people all standing still and staring at one and the same thing. Example: The schoolchildren stood stock-still, staring at the cars that had collided.
• chibidiDescribes fat being excessive or abundant, whether on the body or in food.
• chichichiUsed of people: when they are said to have gone chichichi, they are standing in a crowd all looking at one thing.
• chichinuDescribes many people walking along all headed in one direction. Example: The people moved off together towards the grave to bury the deceased.
• chidigiDescribes putting far too much salt into the relish.
• chidiguUsed of something that has gone chidigu: it has died after only a short time. Compare -didinya.
• chigidiDescribes putting too much salt in the relish, or too much oil on the face. Compare puvu, chinginjingi.
• chingaUsed of birds: when birds go chinga at a place, they have all settled there in great numbers. Example: the birds went chinga in the wheat field.
• chinjinjiDescribes the way poles or other stiff things stand upright, pointing up into the sky. Compare chinjiri.
• chinjiriVariant spelling of "chinjinji".
• chinjiziri
• chiruDescribes leaping or jumping.
• chivhuDescribes cutting something deeply and quickly.
• choThe pecking done by a hen or a bird as it picks up grains with its beak. Example: the hens went cho cho at the rapoko. Compare jo.
• cho cho choThe sound of metallic things knocking against each other. Example: the boy kept making his pocket go cho cho cho so that we would know he had money. It is also used of pedalling a bicycle fast, as in a race.
• cho-oDescribes the pouring of water or the falling of rain. Example: The rain poured down all night long. Also describes ululating. Compare ririri.
• cho-o cho-oDescribes riding a bicycle gently and unhurriedly. Example: the milkman rises early and goes cho-o cho-o on his bicycle from house to house.
• chogodoDescribes knocking ashes or some other substance off something by striking or tapping it.
• chokonyoDescribes the stripping of maize grains off the cob.
• chomwaDescribes stretching or craning the neck out while walking.
• chonjomaDescribes a person squatting down, seated on the heels with the toes resting on the ground.
• chororoDescribes the trickling or streaming downwards of liquid things such as water.
• chowa chowaDescribes walking in a way that shows one does not know what one is doing or where one is going.
• chuDescribes being full to overflowing. Example: on Christmas day the church is chu with people receiving communion. Compare tu. Also describes being struck with a thin switch whose tip makes a sound: the teacher gave me chu with a switch on the legs for coming late to school.
• chubuDescribes something falling into water, whether it has been thrown in or has simply gone in by accident. Example: I fell into the water at night thinking I was stepping onto a flat rock. Compare chabwi.
• chubviDescribes soaking clothes for washing in water. Example: my clothes were put chubvi in water and I was left with nothing to wear.
• chubvuDescribes stirring the contents of a pot or pail with a cooking stick. Example: the dish was stirred chubvu chubvu until it was cooked.
• chubwiDescribes falling into water with a heavy thud, making the water splash up. Example: The huge rock fell in with a splash and the water splashed to the far edges of the pool.
• churiThe noise made by something falling into water. Example: he threw a stone into the well and it went churi.
• chuvhuDescribes milking into a vessel that is already filling up with other milk and with froth. Example: the cow gives so much milk that the milk ends up going chuvhu chuvhu day after day.
• chwabaThe rustling noise made by oversized clothing on someone who is walking. Example: Grandfather's overalls kept swishing as he weeded the maize in the field.
• daDescribes filling right up: if you say a bucket goes da with maize, you have filled it.
• daDescribes springing across with a short jump from one place to another. Example: when I get off the bus I just go da over the little stream and I am home.
• da daDescribes moving forward by leaping or taking long strides.
• dabwa dabwaDescribes an excess of liquid in a fruit or in some other food. Example: the makavhu were cooked and were left just dabwa dabwa.
• dada dadaDescribes the way a small child walks with short hopping steps. When you cross water going dada dada you are leaping in short jumps, afraid of wetting your legs.
• dadabvuUsed of meat: to tear it off with the teeth because it is tough. Compare kakashu.
• dadauDescribes something hung out, such as a hide, drying out thoroughly. Example: the hide had gone dadau after spending the day hanging in the sun. Compare papata, kwakwata.
• daduDescribes a leap like that of a grasshopper, landing further ahead.
• dadzuUsed of a rope, meat or a cloth: to snap or rip it apart forcefully.
• daku dakuDescribes the hopping gait of small animals such as hares (example: the little hare went daku daku looking for food; compare dau dau, kwaku kwaku, tomu tomu, warn warn); also the sparks of a fire flying out from a burning log or elsewhere (example: the fire went daku daku from the wood chips; compare mvari mvari); also speaking quickly yet still audibly.
• dambuDescribes pulling something such as a rope until it snaps, leaving you with two pieces of it. It is also used of passing through a place without staying: example, when I went to Hama's I went dambu through Charandura to see my aunt.
• dananguUsed of a person eating in this manner: they appear to be disgusted by what they are eating.
• dananguDescribes telling or recounting what happened accurately and in full. Example: when his mother returned, he sat down with her and began to go danangu to her about everything that had happened.
• dandaraUsed of a stomach that is dandara: it is full and visibly sticking out. Example: the little one ate so much boiled bambara nuts that his stomach went dandara. Compare tanana, shaku.
• dandauDescribes the beating of a drum. Also describes the swelling or puffing up of a spot that has been struck.
• danhiDescribes jumping from one place to another.
• danoDescribes being left without a plan or at a loss because of something that has happened or a problem that has befallen one. Illustrated by a house having fallen down.
• danzuDescribes biting off a piece of hard food with the teeth, gripping it and pulling. Also describes snapping off a small branch or a leaf from where it was attached.
• dashuVariant spelling of "dambu".
• dau
• dauDescribes a mouse or other creature shooting out from a confined space: the animal went dau out of the hole and no one saw where it went. Also describes a ball striking the ground and bouncing back up into the air.
• deDescribes something giving way and leaning over, as with a tree that has been chopped and is about to fall. Also describes setting off on a journey very early in the morning. Compare dhe, nhe.
• deDescribes striking someone with a stick and landing the blow exactly where one intends. Example: Karikoga struck Benyumundiro de with a stick on the knee.
• de de deA person says de de de when panting from fear or from cold.
• debvaUsed of an animal or person falling to the ground. A drunkard tripped and went debva into the mud.
• dedemaDescribes sitting with the head tilted back, or lying on one's back. Example: the old man lay stretched out dedema on his back in the sun. Compare gaga.
• dedemuUsed of speaking dedemu, that is, speaking without stammering and without fear. The witness told out dedemu all he knew about Erina's death, and the magistrate nodded his head.
• dekeshuDescribes turning around while walking to go back the way one came, as when a girl abruptly turned back on seeing a man on the anthill ahead of her. Also used of cracking open many edible things such as groundnuts.
• deku dekuUsed of speaking in such a way that every word one utters is pronounced clearly and distinctly.
• dembeDescribes a rope that is dembe, one that sags in the middle because it has not been pulled tight.
• demwa demwaDescribes doing something, such as walking or talking, in a self-admiring way, dawdling over it so as to be noticed.
• dendereDescribes travelling straight along a road, following it alone without turning aside. Example: when the mother saw the child had a fever, she carried him on her back and went dendere along the road to the hospital.
• denengaUsed of one who is denenga: standing upright, but having difficulty in staying standing.
• denenguUsed of recounting everything fully and correctly, without faltering.
• dengaDescribes setting off and going straight towards one particular place. Example: when he heard the scream he went denga along the road, heading straight there.
• denga dengaDescribes something that is denga denga: seeming about to settle and then about to topple over again.
• denguDescribes a light object sinking and then floating up on the surface of water. If you push a piece of bark down in water, you see it go dengu on the surface.
• denheVariant spelling of "denhu".
• denhu
• denyuDescribes disappearing instantly and completely.
• detsuDescribes being struck very hard with a fist. Example: the player was hit detsu with a fist and fell to the ground.
• deuDescribes water that has gone deu, that is, come out of the container it was kept in and run downwards.
• deva devaDescribes walking slowly, lifting each leg well clear of the ground.
• deyaDescribes sitting at ease, relaxed, with nothing troubling one. Example: when the mother went off to cook, the children stayed behind sitting deya in the field.
• dhaThe snapping of something that was joined or held together. The fishing line went dha and broke when I hooked a big fish.
• dhabhuDescribes striking the ground and bouncing back up into the air, as a ball does; a ball hit the ground hard and went dhabhu back up into the air. Also describes the up-and-down beating of a large bird's wings as it prepares to take off.
• dhadhanuDescribes tearing or undoing a sewn seam of a garment. Compare radanu.
• dhadhariVariant spelling of "tatara".
• dhadhuDescribes cutting or tearing open something whose insides are soft or liable to flow out. A thief was cut dhadhu with a knife across the belly.
• dhambanuSame as dhadhanu.
• dhana dhanaDescribes walking dhana dhana, the way a child who has just begun to walk does, lifting one leg at a time.
• dheDescribes rising very early in the morning to set off on a journey; a hunter went dhe at dawn to hunt in the forest (compare nhe). Also describes striking something so as to injure or kill it, and staring at something with the eyes bulging wide.
• dhegeDescribes a heavy object falling to the ground and shattering into pieces. Also used of cooking a very large quantity of food.
• dhegemu
• dhemuDescribes striking something hard, such as a stone, with a forceful blow of the fist.
• dheruDescribes falling to the ground on one's back. Also used of passing thin, runny stool noisily, felt in the stomach.
• dhiDescribes striking forcefully so that a thud is heard. He hit him dhi on the chest with a fist.
• dhi dhiThe beating of the heart as it pumps blood.
• dhi-iThe sound of a loud, powerful thunderous boom that can be heard far away. Example: the comrades fired a bazooka and dhi-i was heard throughout the whole neighbourhood.
• dhidhi dhidhiDescribes walking heavily with a stamping tread. Also describes the pounding of the heart when one has been startled or is tired from running.
• dhigaDescribes setting down a heavy object carelessly, usually when one is angry. A woman put the child down dhiga (rest of the example is garbled).
• dhigiDescribes arriving at a place with the thud of one's footsteps.
• dhigu dhigu dhiguWhen a motorcycle goes dhigu dhigu dhigu it is throbbing or rumbling.
• dhindiThe sound made by something hollow inside, such as a drum; on hearing dhindi, people possessed by mashavi spirits get up and dance. Also describes living comfortably, lacking nothing.
• dhindindiDescribes a very great abundance of things that one is given or gives.
• dhindiziriDescribes a heavy object falling to the ground and bouncing back up slightly.
• dhiriThe noise made by a wall or the like collapsing. Also describes many people gathering together in one place.
• dhiriDescribes setting something down on the ground as though letting go of it. Example: he took the hot pot of meat and set it down dhiri.
• dhiri riThe great crashing noise heard when a house collapses or when water roars.
• dhoThe sound heard when one strikes something hard using a stone or a piece of iron.
• dhodyoDescribes piercing something right through, from one side to the other.
• dhomoDescribes skin or hide coming away from the flesh. The boy tripped while running and all the skin came off dhomo.
• dhovhoDescribes piercing right through something soft. A big thorn went dhovho into a cucumber.
• dhuThe sound of a powerful thunderous report. Example: the gun went dhu and we all trembled.
• dhuDescribes leaving in a hurry the place where you were. The thief went dhu out of the house and fled.
• dhu dhu dhuThe noise that water can make as it comes out through a narrow opening. The water went dhu dhu dhu as it came out of the gourd.
• dhubvuThe sound made by water when one scoops it up with a cup or something similar.
• dhudhubwiThe gurgling noise made by water when it goes in through a small mouth or opening. The gourd went dhudhubwi as it sank in the well.
• dhudyuDescribes stabbing or piercing something soft with a knife or a piece of metal.
• dhumaDescribes bumping into one another, or people meeting unexpectedly.
• dhuru dhuruThe rumbling sound made by a motor vehicle standing in one place.
• dhururuDescribes a thing making a great thudding, rumbling noise, like that of a wall collapsing.
• dhuvhuDescribes scooping something up, as one might scoop water with a cup. Example: Bhiridha scooped water dhuvhu with a bucket and then poured it pombe onto the mud for building.
• di di diThe thudding sound of things falling from above. Used of matamba fruit going di di di as they fell when the tree was shaken.
• di-iUsed of a place where there is complete, utter silence.
• didinyaDescribes the way a dead creature lies sprawled out stiffly. The chick lay didinya, its legs in the air.
• difaDescribes the bending or stooping of the back, as happens to old people who can no longer walk upright.
• diga digaDescribes walking with great force, making a heavy thudding tread.
• digiThe sound of footfalls made in walking as one enters a place.
• dimbuDescribes suddenly coming upon or discovering something unexpectedly. Used of chancing upon a big bag full of money.
• dimbuDescribes the parting or snapping apart of a rope when it is pulled hard.
• dindiriDescribes filling something right up to the very last bit. Also of tying something so firmly that it no longer moves or wobbles.
• dinhuDescribes knocking down something that was propped up so that it collapses. Used of a mouse that knocked down the propped trap and was caught.
• do doThe falling of rain in large drops, or of fruits dropping down.
• do-oUsed of showing that a person is unhappy, with things troubling their mind.
• dobiDescribes picking something up quickly. Used of a hen snatching up a grain of maize with its beak.
• doboUsed of something that has become soft and tender.
• dododoDescribes causing things to happen late, dawdling. We would have got there before the week began, had he not gone dododo putting on his suit.
• dodooDescribes recounting a matter fully and accurately, leaving nothing out. Used of a man who told the whole story of his beating without distorting it.
• dodorodoUsed of a person arriving somewhere unexpectedly; also of reaching or coming upon something one had been longing to obtain.
• dodyoDescribes the boring of a deep hole.
• dokwa dokwaDescribes having a strong craving or longing for something. Used of hearts yearning for meat.
• dombeDescribes softening things such as bark fibres by soaking them in water.
• dona donaUsed of a person walking with the neck held straight up, like a giraffe.
• dongoDescribes looking out while putting the head out only slightly, so as not to be seen.
• donongoDescribes craving to eat something so strongly that the mouth waters; also, explaining the course of a matter fully and in detail.
• dori doriDescribes running with short steps. Also the hopping up into flight of grasshoppers or fledglings that cannot yet fly.
• dova dovaDescribes walking gently and softly.
• du du duThe sound of chewing hard things, such as bambara nuts that have been roasted and dried hard.
• duduDescribes moving backwards while still facing forwards. The thief backed away dudu from the place it had broken into when it saw people coming.
• dudu duduDescribes walking bent forward, hiding oneself so as not to be seen by others.
• dukuDescribes a person falling silent and merely looking on at what is being done. Example: the girl was left speechless, her lover having been taken by shrewder people.
• dukununuUsed of a person sitting hunched up and joyless. Also of crowding around something, as children do around a fire in cold weather.
• dukwaDescribes sitting in a crouched, hunched-up position.
• dumbiDescribes being without joy after being let down or thwarted by something. Example: the Nyenganyenga side were downcast, having been thrashed by the Nhengure team.
• dungunuUsed of food: that which tastes good in the mouth.
• dunguru dunguruDescribes walking in a line, one behind the other.
• dunzuDescribes biting off a leaf, or tugging at it until it breaks off.
• duruThe flowing of things as they pour or spill out.
• durunu
• duumuDescribes tipping out everything that is inside a container. Example: while looking for the sewing machine needle, father emptied out the whole sewing box.
• duwa duwaUsed of a person walking along shaking the head as though it were heavy for them. When his horses lost, the man walked the whole way just shaking his head, duwa duwa. Compare nguma nguma.
• dwaDescribes finishing off a task or other things completely.
• dweDescribes letting fall a single drop. Many medicines are given just one drop at a time.
• dwiDescribes letting air out from behind with a small audible noise, usually after one has tried to keep it from happening.
• dya dya dyaThe sound of a large animal running, making heavy thudding footfalls.
• dyore dyoreDescribes gathering things together. Example: the boy gathered up twigs and lit a fire.
• dyuDescribes pricking with a thorn or with an injection. The child was given an injection, dyu.
• dzaDescribes the descending of something from the sky. Used of an aeroplane coming down little by little as it is about to land.
• dzaVariant spelling of "nama".
• dzadzanuDescribes something coming out from where it was hidden, as from a hole. The termites came streaming out of the hole, dzadzanu, having seen the light.
• dzadzara dzadzaraDescribes failing to walk straight, especially in the case of a drunk person.
• dzaka dzakaDescribes the walking of a small child who is just beginning to walk.
• dzakuVariant spelling of "dzadzu".
• dzamaramaDescribes following something up right through to the very end.
• dzamuDescribes taking a full handful of something, as though afraid it will be finished before you get any.
• dzangara dzangara dzangaraDescribes a person suddenly no longer being visible, having slipped away or gone into hiding. The comrades just went round behind the hill and off they were, dzangara dzangara.
• dzatu
• dze dze dze
• dzeduThe bite of snapping a piece off something. The baboon put the sugarcane in its mouth and bit it off dzedu in one go.
• dzedzerereDescribes a person walking as though they are about to fall over.
• dzera dzeraDescribes an unsteady way of walking: when someone goes dzera dzera, they are walking as though about to fall over.
• dzidzimu
• dzikitiDescribes coming down from a high place and landing standing firmly and steadily.
• dzityaDescribes the instant going out of a lamp or fire the moment it is extinguished. A drop of water fell on the lamp and it went out just like that.
• dziuDescribes opening a door or anything else that has a cover. Also of suddenly waking up out of sleep.
• dziva dzivaDescribes moving about slowly while looking for something, appearing as if lost in thought.
• dzoi dzoiDescribes the opening and closing of the eyes. Compare boi boi.
• dzokonoVariant spelling of "dzoke".
• dzororoUsed of a person standing still without swaying or wobbling at all.
• dzuDescribes the fullness of things placed in a container. The dish was piled full of reddened pumpkins.