All Nyaudzosingwi

Figurative Expressions

• ndadzuDescribes the slow rolling of the eyes, as of a person who has fainted or is about to die.
• ndana ndanaDescribes walking with the legs spread wide apart, set far from each other. Compare tanya tanya. Also describes walking like a small child, steadying oneself so as not to fall.
• ndandandaUsed of the presence of a great many people or things.
• ndanyaUsed (as ndanya ndanya) of walking with long strides in a manner that shows off self-importance.
• ndarazuDescribes the body of a person who had been fat becoming thin.
• ndeDescribes handing over to another person something you are holding in your hands. Example: he was then handed the money he had been complaining about.
• nde-eDescribes staring fixedly at one thing for a very long time.
• ndendendeDescribes tying something very tightly. Also describes a person who had been troubled or ill becoming settled in mind and body.
• ndenderere
• ndenge ndengeDescribes the shaking of the ground or the earth, caused by its instability.
• ndengendeDescribes shaking violently, as the soil or ground or earth does when it is unsteady. Example: The windows of the houses went ndengende when the earthquake began.
• ndengu ndenguDescribes the shivering of someone who has been caught by the cold or who has been startled.
• nderendereDescribes walking behind a person or other moving thing without actually following it. Compare nderere.
• nderuDescribes running in haste over sloping ground.
• ndiDescribes gripping or holding something very firmly.
• ndiDescribes stopping abruptly because something is blocking you so that you can no longer go forward; also reaching the end of whatever is happening.
• ndikinyaDescribes giving someone something while in your heart you do not want to give it to them.
• ndimuDescribes the sudden, rapid scattering apart of people, animals or many things. Example: the birds that were in the millet scattered at once when a noise rang out.
• ndindindiThe faint sound heard from far off of a drum, a gun, or falling rain.
• ndindindiDescribes the swelling of something that has been filled with other things, as a stomach filled with food. Also describes a house being packed with people who have gathered, at a place such as a church or at a home where there is a funeral.
• ndindo-oUsed of the outdoors when it is so dark that even things that are close by cannot be seen.
• ndiririDescribes the halting of something that moves or turns, its brakes screeching as it stops, as in "The lorry pulled up ndiriri at the station and the people got off."
• ndoDescribes being weighed down by something you are carrying. Example: I was pressed down ndo by the bundle of firewood I was carrying.
• ndo ndo ndoDescribes the sinking of something down into mud or water.
• ndo-oDescribes the skin or some other thing turning very dark, as of a girl who used skin-lightening preparations for years and these days has gone dark ndo-o; also the sinking or ruin of a thing, as in "So you are saying my shirt should just be lost ndo-o?"
• ndondo-ondoDescribes sinking into mud, or going down so as to disappear from sight.
• ndonyeDescribes stuffing food into the mouth without any care for how one is eating. Also describes a person winking the eye quickly.
• ndonyeUsed when you have fallen to the ground head first.
• ndoriDescribes the nodding of the head of a person who is drowsy.
• ndoweVariant spelling of "ndonye".
• ndu ndu nduDescribes sitting in silence, refusing to speak to someone because one is sulking.
• ndugu
• ndundumwaDescribes becoming angry on the spot because of having been wronged. Compare fundumwa.
• ndunduru ndunduruDescribes dragging a person along forcibly, against their will.
• ndureDescribes the sting of a bee or wasp. Also used of two or more people falling at the same moment.
• ndure ndureDescribes people coming out of a house in single file, one behind the other.
• nduteDescribes biting a person or an animal painfully. Example: she bit the cheek of the loose woman who was going about with her husband.
• ndwaDescribes sinking quickly, as a fishing float does when a fish has been hooked.
• ndweDescribes stabbing or piercing with a blunt arrow, or with one whose head is of wood.
• ndwiUsed of crops being planted crowded together when farming, so that they fail to grow properly.
• ndwiDescribes pinching that is done gently but still hurts.
• ndyandya ndyandyaDescribes the running of an animal with large hooves, making a heavy thudding tread.
• ndyararaDescribes the walking of people moving in single file.
• ndyu ndyu nrlviiDescribes the galloping of a horse as it pounds the ground with its hooves.
• neka neka
• neka nekaDescribes a bustle of activity in doing something, with people working together. See nekai.
• nekesheDescribes the tiredness a person may feel after working hard and being hungry as well.
• neketeDescribes feeling that there is no strength left in your body after you have been working hard.
• neku nekuDescribes walking about, going there and coming back again, with no purpose at all.
• neku nekuUsed of a person's walking as they go up and down aimlessly.
• nengaDescribes being right at the very top of something. Example: the eagle was perched atop a dry branch.
• nenga nengaDescribes walking on a high place while showing fear of falling.
• nengemaUsed of being or sitting in a high, raised place.
• nengeshuDescribes smashing something such as a clay pot until it is broken into pieces.
• nengesvuDescribes stepping back a little and stopping, startled or frightened by something. Example: when he saw something like a snake in the bush, he said nengesvu, and then peered carefully from where he stood.
• nengeteDescribes the tiredness a person feels.
• nepfuDescribes the breaking or crumbling off of something that is not hard, such as bread or cake. Compare mepfu.
• neteDescribes feeling the body lose its strength because of hunger, trouble or illness.
• ngabuUsed of being struck on the head with a stone.
• nganduDescribes the sudden, quick flaring up of a great flame of fire.
• ngangaDescribes tying something so that it becomes very firm and tight.
• ngapaVariant spelling of "katsva".
• ngaraDescribes the rolling of a person or an animal on the ground.
• ngararaDescribes the untidy look of things that have been thrown about everywhere.
• ngarengareDescribes the way a person darts their eyes about, so that all you see is the eye flashing.
• ngendeUsed of a bell: when it says ngende it has been rung just once.
• ngendyeThe sound made by a key as one locks something. See keche.
• ngenjeVariant spelling of "ngendye".
• ngi ngi ngiDescribes tying something tightly and firmly.
• ngindi ngindiThe sound of beating a drum, which gives out a noise matching these words.
• ngindi ngindiThe sound a drum makes when it is being beaten.
• ngiriri ngiririThe sound made by a telephone as it rings before it is answered. Compare ngururu ngururu.
• ngocho ngochoThe sound of a hoofed animal walking, its hooves making a noise.
• ngodoDescribes striking someone on the head with something you have thrown.
• ngomhuDescribes stooping or bending over with the head thrust forward.
• ngondaDescribes a tree, grass, plant or flower on the point of falling over because its stem has been eaten by grubs.
• ngondi ngondiDescribes walking little by little with the back bent over.
• ngondoDescribes the falling of a large object as it goes over a cliff or drops from a height.
• ngondomuVariant spelling of "ngondo".
• ngonjoroThe sound of a stone being shaken about inside a tin.
• ngubeDescribes entering a place hurriedly.
• ngunduThe sound of thundering, as happens when rain is about to fall.
• ngunduruThe sound a metal utensil makes when it falls.
• nguru nguruDescribes the darting about of the eyes of someone ashamed of what they have done, as in: his eyes went nguru nguru when he was accused of stealing the meat. Also describes shaking a bottle of water about in order to clean it.
• ngururu ngururu
• nguruzezeDescribes hanging or drooping down because of illness or exhaustion.
• nguwa nguwaDescribes walking in a manner that shows you do not know where you want to go.
• nguyuUsed of a person's mouth: if one is nguyu in the mouth, one does not have even a single tooth.
• nguyu nguyuUsed of the handle of a utensil that moves about because it is not firmly attached; also of the chewing of a person who has no teeth in their mouth.
• ngwacharaThe sound made by a bundle of firewood that has not been tied tightly as it strikes the ground when let go. Compare ngwachata.
• ngwachataDescribes an animal or person collapsing when all strength has left the body; see mvucha. Also the sound made by dry reeds falling to the ground.
• ngwamuDescribes striking a person on the face or on the head.
• ngwandangwandaDescribes a place being full of household goods or furniture strewn all over. Example: I found the chairs and the table lying ngwandangwanda in the house after the owners of the house had finished fighting.
• ngwangwangw aDescribes a tin's lid being slightly raised and not tightly closed; compare chanjama. Also describes a large animal such as an elephant raising its ears.
• ngwanjaUsed of a utensil that has been thrown away because it is worn out; also of a bundle of firewood dropping, and of a person or animal falling to the ground from tiredness or weakness in the legs.
• ngwanja ngwanjaThe sound made by pieces of metal falling one after another. Compare ngwenjere. Also the noise of the engine of an old car. Compare gweje gweje.
• ngwanjai ngwanjaiDescribes the walking of a person who has no strength.
• ngwanjaraDescribes the falling or tumbling down of a bundle of firewood that has not been tied together.
• ngwaruUsed of a person who looks as though he is clever or intelligent. Example: Look for the boy who is ngwaru among these three, the one we shall send to go and marry.
• ngwe-eDescribes flour or a garment being white, its colour showing clearly. Also used of the outdoors becoming bright or light.
• ngwendereThe clanging sound made by a metal vessel when it falls to the ground.
• ngwengwendereThe sound made by a dish or some other metal utensil when it falls to the ground.
• ngwenjere
• ngwereDescribes the whiteness of something that looks like flour or powder.
• ngwerengwereClanging is the sound of a bell or metal being struck repeatedly.
• ngwiDescribes the striking of one thing against another.
• ngwi-iThe droning or rumbling sound made by a car or an aeroplane as it travels along.
• ngwiringwindiDescribes slipping into a hole or burrow easily. Example: the duck went ngwiringwindi into the hole I had dug.
• ngwiriri
• nhaDescribes taking a small lump of sadza and placing it on top of one's heap of sadza; a mother who wanted her son to take a wife would, when she cooked for him, set a small lump of sadza on top of his portion in this way. Also describes snatching something up quickly and forcefully, as in: he grabbed the axe and went off into the bush.
• nhamhuDescribes the leaping of a leopard as it pounces on an animal it intends to eat or attack.
• nhanhiDescribes leaping from one rock to another.
• nhanhu
• nhengaDescribes walking unsteadily, not in a straight line, going off to one side and coming back. If you are not brave you cannot walk in a high place, because you will go nhenga nhenga.
• nhenha nhenhaSee mhemha mhemha.
• nhiDescribes seizing a person or an animal by the throat.
• nho-oDescribes the going out of a fire.
• nhonho-oDescribes food being cold, or the weather being cool.
• nhonhonhoDescribes food being cold, or the weather outside being cool.
• nhonhowa nhonhowaDescribes walking while treading gingerly, like a person with sores on the soles of the feet.
• ninguDescribes a twisting or spraining at the places where the bones of the body meet, such as at the knee; compare minyu.
• njachaDescribes the collapsing or falling down of a person who has no strength; also the noisy falling of things such as firewood.
• njadaguDescribes falling over backwards and striking the ground with the head and the back. Compare gaga.
• njaku njakuSee njai njai.
• njandaDescribes the falling down of a person who has no strength. Compare mvucha.
• njandanguDescribes the fall of a person who has failed to place his step properly.
• njandayaDescribes falling to the ground through lack of strength.
• njayaDescribes leaving utensils or belongings unattended and unguarded. Compare gwindiritse.
• njeDescribes striking exactly on the spot you are aiming at, using the fist or a weapon.
• nje-eDescribes the glinting or shining of an object; also the walking about of a person who is uneasy or unsettled in the heart.
• nje nje njeDescribes having many spots or markings, as a leopard does. Also describes shivering from cold or from fear, and shining faintly, as the sun does when it is just rising.
• njengenjengeDescribes the falling of a hard object that is wrapped in something soft.
• njenguDescribes beating someone with a thick switch, striking mostly on the head.
• njenjekeDescribes putting utensils all together on one side, but in a manner showing no care for them. Compare njokoto.
• njerere
• njimuVariant spelling of "zhimu".
• njoThe sound of things falling that make a noise, such as coins. Example: he threw down a sack of nails.
• njodogoDescribes striking someone with a fist on the face, on the chest or on the knees.
• njoko njokoSee kocho kocho.
• njokotoDescribes throwing utensils down carelessly so that they are left scattered about on the ground, as when plates and spoons are flung down in the kitchen.
• njororoDescribes water or gravy trickling out little by little. Water trickled from the tin through a hole eaten by rust.
• njunjuDescribes the whiteness of a garment or of a vessel; compare mbu-u.
• nokoDescribes picking things up with the palm of the hand.
• nomboDescribes scooping up things such as peanut butter, mashed peas or honey using a single finger.
• nongeDescribes picking up something lying on the ground quickly.
• nonozo
• nopfoDescribes eating as though unwilling, merely biting mouthfuls off the edges of other pieces. Compare nyobvo, nyubvu.
• nunuva nunuvaDescribes walking softly and gently, as though one were reluctant to tread on the ground, as when wearing new shoes; compare komba komba.
• nwada nwadaDescribes walking while dragging oneself along, treading on the ground with the toes only.
• nyaDescribes sinking into soil or into water. The sun went down before we had finished digging out the manure.
• nyachaDescribes hair standing up, when a person has not combed it down so that it lies evenly flat.
• nyachara nyacharaDescribes walking while making a noise with the feet or with tins.
• nyadiUsed of the sun: when it does nyadi it has gone down.
• nyaduDescribes cutting or scratching the skin slightly; it is also used of the cutting of incision marks (nyora), after which medicine is applied.
• nyadzu
• nyakata"Nyakata" means to be soaked with water. He was rained on, and his clothes were left completely drenched. "Nyakata" also means the melting of something in hot water or in the sun.
• nyaku nyaku
• nyambu
• nyamuDescribes getting up quickly, or lifting something up quickly. The pot of meat was whipped off the fire.
• nyamwiDescribes getting up or rising quickly.
• nyanduDescribes the standing on end of a person's hair, either when it is uncombed or when one is seized by fear. Example: passing by the graves at night, one feels one's hair stand up on one's head; also used of a person starting up suddenly (apparently from lying down).
• nyandu nyanduDescribes walking hurriedly while flinging about one's arms and clothes so as to be noticed.
• nyangadu
• nyangaraDescribes the vanishing from sight of something that had been there. Example: in no time at all the clouds simply vanished from the sky.
• nyangararaUsed of hair that has not been combed or parted.
• nyangataDescribes the softening of something that had been stiff or hard. A hide is left soft after being worked with salt and water.
• nyangeDescribes sprinkling or scattering something in small amounts, as pepper, which should only be sprinkled lightly because too much makes the food hot. Also used of licking peanut butter or porridge off a baby's mouth.
• nyangi nyangiDescribes walking stealthily, on tiptoe, so as to arrive without being heard. A cat moves like this when it has spotted mice.
• nyapuDescribes striking lightly with a small thin switch. When a young child is punished, it is merely given a nyapu that does not hurt.
• nyarakataDescribes the falling apart of things that had been joined together, each coming away separately. Example: the wall of the house crumbled apart after being soaked by drizzling rain.
• nyareDescribes tying something loosely and gently, so that it is not hard to untie.
• nyareDescribes the feeling of unease or mental discomfort a person has when they have done something improper. The son-in-law felt nyare after saying something shameful in front of his mother-in-law.
• nyasaDescribes the softening of something that had been hard or stiff, or that had been fierce.
• nyauDescribes the melting of something that was hard. The margarine melted when it was put out in the sun.
• nyauDescribes the biting and tearing done by something with sharp teeth. The crocodile took a nyau at father's calf.
• nyavaDescribes the becoming gentle of something that had been obstinate or troublesome, as a beast does when it is headed off and brought under control.
• nyava nyavaDescribes walking slowly, little by little and gently.
• nyazu nyazuDescribes walking vigorously while showing off or swaggering.
• nye-eUsed of seeds in a field: when they go nye-e they have all germinated, with none failing to come up.
• nyechuDescribes breaking a small piece off a large one.
• nyenaUsed of something standing open when it ought to be kept closed. Also describes laughing pointlessly or for no reason.
• nyenuDescribes opening the mouth so that one's teeth are plainly shown.
• nyenyenyeUsed of something that does nyenyenye: it glitters or shines.
• nyenyeuDescribes biting into something and leaving a hole where the bite was taken. The child took a nyenyeu out of the guava.
• nyenyuDescribes biting off and eating small morsels. Example: the boy nibbled at a banana.
• nyenyu
• nyeveDescribes telling someone words that may be of help to them in certain matters.
• nyevenuDescribes the relief or gladness felt after hearing or seeing that the bad thing one had been dreading did not happen. Example: after the bus overturned, one felt relief on seeing that the whole family had survived.
• nyeya nyeyaUsed of children's clothes: when they are nyeya nyeya, each child has been bought his or her own.
• nyezuDescribes kindling a fire that burns fiercely. Compare nyeu, zhii.
• nyiDescribes putting something into another substance that is watery or liquid.
• nyiduVariant spelling of "nyapu".
• nyimbiri nvimhiriDescribes the dancing of people or animals when they are happy.
• nyindiDescribes finishing off all the food, or eating so much food that one becomes bloated.
• nyinuDescribes baring the teeth openly, as a dog does when it is angry.
• nyipuDescribes the collapsing or dropping down of an emaciated or sick animal or person.
• nyiri nyiriDescribes the shimmering of the sun when it is hot but mixed with haze, so that one cannot see clearly into the distance.
• nyobi nyobiDescribes the nibbling at bait that a fish does when one is angling with a hook.
• nyobvoVariant spelling of "nopfo".
• nyochiDescribes swallowing a large mouthful of sadza.
• nyodoDescribes the snapping or breaking off of a cord, or of a fruit such as a banana.
• nyodzviDescribes the sinking of something into water so that it is never seen again.
• nyofoDescribes pushing a stick into a hole so that whatever has gone in comes out. Also describes putting one's fingers into something such as cake or bread, tearing or breaking off a piece.
• nyofu nyofuDescribes eating in a manner showing that the person does not much care for the food. Compare nyobvu nyobvu.
• nyubvuVariant spelling of "nopfu".
• nzi-iThe sound made by insects such as bees when they are flying.
• nzununuDescribes a person sitting quietly and still, especially when sick or in pain.
• nzunzumaDescribes squatting for a short while with the body resting on the heels.
• nzvaDescribes carrying an axe or other implements on the shoulders.
• nzva-aUsed of the outdoors when it has gone nzva-a, that is, when it has become dark. Compare svu, nzvarara.
• nzvadaDescribes the walk of a person showing off, swinging the hips so as to be admired.
• nzvaiDescribes the sinking of something into water. Also describes a person being wounded by something that injures.
• nzvararaUsed of the outdoors when it has gone nzvarara, that is, when it has become dark. Compare nzva-a.
• nzve-eDescribes something such as a person or animal passing by a place quickly.
• nzve-eDescribes slipping off to one side so as not to be seen or caught, or to avoid whatever else is intended for you by someone who means to do it.
• nzvekaUsed of a thin person who goes nzveka nzveka, being ill and walking as though the wind could carry him away.
• nzvi-iUsed of something that is very dark or deeply black.
• nzvidoDescribes a fruit that has turned a very deep, dark colour from ripening. Example: I saw tsubvu fruits hanging dark and ripe in that tree at Shupi's home. Compare nzviro.
• nzvinzvi-iDescribes being very black or dark, whether of a person, an animal, the outdoors, or a utensil.
• nzvoriUsed of a small piece of metal that has fallen to the ground and can no longer be seen, having lodged somewhere.
• obodoDescribes food that has been cooked excessively, i.e. overcooked.
• ochomoDescribes speaking without thinking, talking nonsense. Compare -bvojomo, -bvotomo.
• odoDescribes sleeping very deeply — sleeping the sleep of death itself.
• ombeUsed of putting a cloth or some other thing into water and leaving it there for a long time, i.e. soaking.
• omboDescribes skimming off what lies on the surface without going down to the bottom, as when mother skimmed the cream off the milk and poured it into the relish.
• omoDescribes taking honey out of a hive, or from wherever it is, when harvesting it.
• otsiDescribes the coughing one does when irritated by snuff taken through the nose or by something similar. Compare hetsu.
• paDescribes striking hard with an open palm or with something broad and flat.
• paduDescribes a thing splitting or cracking open, usually because it has been overfilled.
• paiDescribes a thing that has become caught and is held up above the ground, perhaps in a tree, when it was expected to come down.
• paka pakaUsed of people who are packing up hurriedly.
• pamheDescribes repeating an action, or adding something on top of other things.
• pamuDescribes striking a person hard with the palm of the hand. Also the noise made by things being pounded in a mortar.
• pamuDescribes a vessel being filled right up to the brim.
• panganuDescribes getting just a little something to eat, drink or smoke — only enough to take the edge off the craving — at a time when such things are hard to come by.
• panguUsed of taking a few things away from among many others.
• panyanguDescribes opening the legs apart so that the private parts may be seen.
• papa papaThe sound of a bird's wings beating against its body as it flies.
• papanyaDescribes something that is stiff and hard, especially cloth or hides.
• papara paparaDescribes the repeated beating of the wings by a fowl or bird when it is about to fly.
• papataDescribes a thing being extremely hard or dried out.
• paramuUsed of committing a very great offence.
• pataThe noise made by something like mud or porridge when it falls to the ground.
• patiDescribes waking up quickly.
• pauDescribes snapping a branch off a tree quickly.
• pazuDescribes chopping branches off a tree.
• penenguDescribes opening something quickly.
• penzuUsed of finishing off a problem that had been troubling one.
• pepereDescribes a person leaving and going away for good.
• pepere pepereDescribes the fluttering to and fro of paper or cloth being blown about by the wind.