All Nyaudzosingwi

Figurative Expressions

• peperere
• pepfu
• pera peraDescribes something moving about in a way that shows it has no strength.
• pesengu
• petuDescribes folding paper or cloth over so that it becomes small. Also describes turning around and going back the way one came.
• peya peyaDescribes walking on weak legs, from illness or from being weighed down.
• pfaDescribes gripping something soft firmly.
• pfa pfaDescribes pouring water in short bursts — letting it run out briefly, then shutting it off and opening it again.
• pfa pfa raThe sound made when fatty things burn, or when they are right in the fire.
• pfachaDescribes a person's sudden, unexpected arrival at a place.
• pfacharaDescribes the manner of walking of a person dressed in torn, ragged clothes.
• pfachuDescribes water splashing and scattering far off, as when something is thrown into water that has collected somewhere.
• pfakanyaDescribes a movement of the body showing signs of life in a person, or in an animal that was thought to be dead or asleep.
• pfakanyuVariant spelling of "pfakanya".
• pfapfanyuDescribes biting into a large piece of tender meat.
• pfarapfataDescribes the flapping and thrashing of a chicken or bird that is dying.
• pfari pfariDescribes the thrashing about of an animal or bird that is at the point of death.
• pfau pfauDescribes the thrashing or flapping about of an animal or bird that is dying.
• pfazuDescribes cutting off a small piece of something.
• pfeDescribes a thing having gone into some place.
• pfekecheThe sound made when a person walks over dry leaves.
• pfemveketeVariant spelling of "undundu".
• pfetse
• pfi pfiUsed of people laughing while trying to stifle or conceal their laughter.
• pfichiri pfichiriDescribes repeated startled jerking or twitching, as a cow does when it first begins to be milked.
• pfichuDescribes quietly letting out a foul-smelling gas — breaking wind silently.
• pfiki pfikiDescribes putting oneself in a concealed place; to hide oneself away.
• pfikuDescribes the onset of weeping, when a person's tears begin to flow and their breath comes in gasps.
• pfizuDescribes a person looking like one who is dead, especially after an accident and injury, or after seeing something terrifying. Also describes a person being thoroughly full after eating.
• pfoDescribes striking a person in the face with a fist.
• pfo pfo pfoThe sound of air being pumped into a tyre with a pump that pumps hard.
• pfocheDescribes stuffing one's mouth full of food. Also used of speaking things that have no bearing on the matter under discussion.
• pfochoDescribes running away in flight, especially when one has been overpowered or fears being overpowered by the one being fled from.
• pfodoDescribes sleeping very deeply, so that whatever happens one may fail to hear it. Also describes striking someone in the face with a fist, or pinching a person painfully.
• pfodogo
• pfonyeDescribes filling the mouth with food; also cramming things into something, forcing them in so they fit. Used of clothing, it means tucking a shirt into trousers or a blouse into a skirt.
• pforiDescribes sleeping exceedingly deeply, to the point of forgetting what is going on outside. Also describes going to some place such as a forest or an unfamiliar area and becoming lost.
• pforiworiDescribes the piercing of something as it goes into thin skin or into some other soft thing.
• pfoveDescribes striking or punching something so that it is left dented inwards and damaged.
• pfozoVariant spelling of "fozo".
• pfuDescribes the expelling of mucus or of dust that is in the nose.
• pfu-uDescribes giving off a smell that makes the place where one is stink.
• pfuchaDescribes filling a container with grain; filling things up so full that some spills over.
• pfucheDescribes giving off a smell that offends those who are near you.
• pfuchuVariant spelling of "pfichi".
• pfuduguDescribes removing a cloth or grass that had covered or wrapped something, leaving it exposed.
• pfudunuDescribes a knife coming off from where it was fastened, working itself loose. Compare -fundunu.
• pfudzunuVariant spelling of "pfudunu".
• pfugadaDescribes bending the knees to show respect to an elder whom one is greeting or handing something to. Also describes folding the front legs, as a goat does when drinking water.
• pfuguduVariant spelling of "pfudugu".
• pfugumuDescribes breaking a piece off something that is hard but crumbles away.
• pfukuchu pfukuchu
• pfukumuDescribes the rising of dust in a house where there has been feasting or dancing.
• pfumbaDescribes gripping something in the hand, the thing being so small that the hand closes right around it.
• pfumbuDescribes dust rising up because of a whirlwind or other things capable of lifting it.
• pfumbunuDescribes taking fruit out of the place where it had been put away to ripen.
• pfumburuVariant spelling of "pfumbu".
• pfumvumaUsed of a person sitting stooped over towards the ground, in a way that stirs pity.
• pfundumwaUsed of a person who keeps the mouth shut in anger; to sulk in silence.
• pfunga pfungaDescribes a small amount of smoke rising into the air.
• pfungeDescribes smelling very strongly.
• pfunhu
• pfunzunuUsed of something that was twisted or tied together coming undone or unravelling.
• pfupfuThe sound made by a hollow log as it burns inside.
• pfupfuduDescribes pieces breaking off a clod when it is thrown down.
• pfupfuri pfupfuriUsed of a person walking in a manner showing that the place they are in is frightening.
• pfupfuruThe sound a fowl makes when it has been cut with a knife and is dying: pfupfuru pfupfuru.
• pfuraDescribes the falling asleep of a person who is tired out.
• pfurunyuDescribes stripping the grass thatch off the roof of a house.
• pfurupfutuDescribes something whose body twitches convulsively, as a fowl does when it has been cut with a knife and is about to die, or a person seized by a fit.
• pfutuDescribes releasing a person or cattle that had been held in captivity or tied up.
• pfutunuUsed of something coming loose from where it was fastened or tied; of a wire or rope, slipping free of what it had been binding.
• pfuuDescribes passing something that is ahead of you, running so as to overtake it.
• pfyuDescribes the spitting and leaping of oil in a pot, as when cold water is added to it.
• pi-iThe sound of a bus, motorcycle or car sounding its horn.
• pibvuDescribes striking a fat person hard, on their sagging flesh.
• pida pidaUsed of a short, stout person walking with small steps and looking weighed down by their own body; compare tanhu tanhu.
• pidi-igu nyondeDescribes a car rolling over rapidly after overturning, continuing forward to crash.
• pidibuVariant spelling of "pidigu".
• pidiguDescribes a car turning over so that its wheels point up into the air.
• pigiThe thudding sound made by a horse's legs as they strike the ground.
• pigida pigidaDescribes walking with short steps, with a thudding tread.
• pigidiDescribes adding things by hand until they become too much, as happens when putting in salt or rubbing on oil.
• pigiduDescribes digging up and removing things buried in the soil, such as stones and sweet potatoes.
• pikiduDescribes lifting a long object such as a log and levering it over to the other side.
• piku pikuUsed of a person walking hurriedly because they have lost their way and are late for where they must go.
• pimhiriDescribes the falling of something like a large bone as it drops onto the ground or onto something soft.
• pindikitiDescribes entering right into a house quickly, or at a moment when the people inside were not expecting you.
• pindimbi
• pindirikitiVariant spelling of "pindikiti".
• pinduDescribes turning off the path you were following and taking another, or changing your mind about what you were doing or intending to do.
• pinginuDescribes the seeking out of a medicine that counteracts harmful medicine which has been sprinkled about a homestead or administered to a person.
• pingu pinguThe sound of drums when two or more people beat their drums at different times, yet produce a rhythm.
• piniminiDescribes writhing or wriggling rapidly, as the severed tail of a living creature does. Also used of moving the tail from one side to the other.
• pininguDescribes the unravelling of something that has been knitted or crocheted, as might be done to a jersey or a doily. Also used of towing something along, as with a car.
• pininiDescribes the quivering of something like a spear after it has pierced an animal; also the standing erect of a man's genitals when he thinks of sleeping with a woman.
• pinjiriDescribes placing something in a spot crosswise or at an angle.
• pinyinguDescribes twisting or writhing, spinning round, or getting up suddenly. Also used of overturning, as a car does when it fails to take a corner. See pinyu.
• pinyuDescribes twisting or spinning round, or getting up quickly. Compare pinyingu.
• pipfuDescribes something splitting into two pieces. To say pipfu is to cut something such as a sweet potato with a hoe, pick or knife.
• pipidzuDescribes the lifting up of a heavy object so that one may then carry it.
• pipiri pipiriDescribes floundering about while seeking a way to free oneself and escape, as an animal does when caught by the leg in a rope.
• pipitaDescribes the carrying of heavy things. Compare -bipitira.
• pipitiUsed of carrying heavy things.
• pipituDescribes lifting up heavy things in order to carry them.
• pirimbweDescribes being confused in one's mind by things one does not properly understand.
• pirimuDescribes starting up suddenly, coming to and finding oneself already doing something one had not expected. Example: when water was thrown in my face as I slept in the chair, I sprang up with a start.
• piringaDescribes the crossing or interlacing of things, as a person does when knitting a jersey.
• piringa piringaDescribes the hurried walk of a slender person, taking short steps and swaying slightly, moving from one side to the other.
• piringidoDescribes entering a place in a hurry, as a person being chased does.
• piringindiVariant spelling of "piringido".
• piripitiDescribes the running of many animals all at the same time.
• pirivaUsed of hesitating or being reluctant to do something.
• piro-oUsed of something that is very red.
• pirototoDescribes the rising of a man's sexual organ when he thinks of sleeping with a woman.
• piruDescribes having the intention of wanting to strike or kill a person.
• pishinuDescribes changing one's mind suddenly.
• piti pitiVariant spelling of "pitipiti".
• pitipitiDescribes hurrying into a house or other place, of animals or of many people following one after another; also the deep penetration of one thing into another, as a plough goes into the soil after heavy rain. Also used of moving something like a tail up and down, as animals do when running.
• pitu pituDescribes the hurried moving about of a person searching quickly for something.
• piviDescribes painting one's face, usually done by women to add to their beauty, but here done to excess.
• piyeWhen a thing has gone piye it lies crosswise over some place.
• pobvoThe sound of something falling into water, as a stone that has been thrown does.
• poteUsed of a thing that has moved and gone round to the other side, out of sight behind something.
• pu-uWhen a thing has gone pu-u it has fallen to the ground.
• puguDescribes a person smoking tobacco puffing smoke up into the air.
• pukaDescribes showing great astonishment, so that a person is at a loss what to do. Also describes leaping or jumping up into the air, or landing in front.
• puka pukaDescribes the walking of a person who seems to be wandering about dizzily, showing that he does not know where he is going.
• pukunyuDescribes extricating oneself when one has been tied up or caught.
• pwaThe sound made by something that cracks or splits, such as a plank or a piece of firewood.
• pwakaDescribes treading on something, which usually then gives off an audible noise.
• pwatiDescribes a person bursting out laughing in a high-pitched voice.
• pwititiDescribes the rising of smoke or dust up into the air.
• rabadu rabaduDescribes the slow, little-by-little walking of a tall person.
• rabarabaUsed of something that is longer or taller than others of its kind.
• rabuDescribes lying down on the ground with no strength in the body; also lying down thoroughly at ease.
• rabvuVariant spelling of "wabvanyu".
• rachaDescribes doing things carelessly, without concern.
• radabuVariant spelling of "rabu".
• ragaduVariant spelling of "rabu".
• rakataDescribes the falling of things that had been held, such as fruits, scattering in all directions.
• randabvuDescribes tearing meat apart with great force.
• randadzuVariant spelling of "randabvu".
• randau randauDescribes walking with heavy, resounding footsteps and with an inward air of self-importance.
• ranganyuDescribes leaping without any noise, as a cat or a leopard does.
• rapa rapaSee tapa tapa.
• rapataDescribes a person collapsing and lying flat on the ground from having no strength, through illness or exhaustion.
• rapuDescribes the forceful straightening out of something that had been bent or twisted.
• rararaDescribes the destroying of many things beyond any possibility of repair. Also, when things are rarara they are many and of equal length.
• rare
• rasvuDescribes walking with long strides.
• ratataDescribes putting out in the open things that ought to be kept hidden away; also lying down in the open with nothing covering one.
• ratu ratuDescribes running with long strides.
• rauDescribes separating things that had been mixed together.
• raviDescribes licking food or other things in order to tell how far along it is in cooking or ripening.
• razvaDescribes regarding oneself as the only expert or the best among everyone else.
• rebwedeUsed of a person who has no strength in the body. Variants: rembwede, rengwende.
• rembuDescribes the sticking and unsticking of substances such as okra slime or glue.
• rengwaDescribes the way one thing clings or holds onto another without being firm.
• rengwa rengwaDescribes the hanging and swinging to and fro of something that has been suspended.
• rengwende rengwendeDescribes walking feebly, without strength.
• rengwezeDescribes lacking strength in the body.
• reruDescribes being of little weight, that is, light.
• resva
• rezuUsed of something stuck or attached at one point while its whole body dangles down; also describes the appearance of crops when badly scorched by the sun.
• rezvu
• rikitiDescribes the falling to the ground of a heavy object.
• ringindiDescribes a person or animal lying asleep in a way that shows deep rest; also the sinking down into a hole of something that has fallen in, and the way a pole fits snugly into a hole.
• ringinyaVariant spelling of "ringindi".
• riririThe sound of rejoicing or celebrating, usually made by a large group of women.
• riririUsed of the noise a person makes when calling out for help after having met with an accident or danger.
• ririva
• ritaDescribes being at a loss as to what to do, having run out of ideas. Compare tuzu, boi.
• rivaDescribes a large number of people working together; also starting on something at the same time as one another.
• rododo
• rododoDescribes sleeping deeply, in a heavy sleep.
• rokotoUsed of things that have been completely burnt up. When the fire went out his clothes were rokoto, so that not even a scrap of cloth could be seen.
• rondondo
• rororoDescribes something burning until it is reduced to ashes. Also describes the sinking down of something long or tall.
• rororoDescribes sleeping a deep, heavy sleep.
• rove rove
• ruduDescribes a person suddenly taking offence and refusing what they wanted to be given.
• ruguduDescribes something snapping and dropping quickly to the ground; also becoming worn out after hard work or a long walk; also the dislocation of bones, as when one falls awkwardly. Variant: rudugu.
• rukushu
• rukutuDescribes lacking strength in the body, owing to tiredness or illness.
• rwiDescribes gathering things together in one place at one time. He stacked firewood against the wall rwi.
• sa
• sadaguDescribes having one part of the body protruding further out than the others. Example: the belly of a pregnant woman sticks out sadagu. Compare sadu.
• sadamaDescribes holding the head tilted back with the stomach pushed forward.
• saduVariant spelling of "sadagu".
• sai saiDescribes the swelling up of a part of the body. Example: he was punched in the face and it swelled up sai sai. Also describes being full to the brim, as a river would be.
• saka sakaDescribes rain falling gently and softly.
• samhu
• sandaraDescribes being level or even, as the ground or some other surface might be. Also describes the swelling of a place that has been beaten or injured: he was stung by a bee and his face swelled up sandara. Compare saisai.
• sanduDescribes suddenly changing what you were saying or doing. He had admitted stealing, then went sandu and denied it.
• sara-ara
• semuDescribes separating one strip or portion from another. Example: I broke off a lump of sadza and it was set aside just so.
• sendaDescribes standing while leaning against something. Variant: zenda.
• sengu
• sesenuDescribes removing the outer skins or peel of a fruit or of other such things.
• sesepuDescribes the softening of things that are being pounded or ground. I pounded the nuts in the mortar until they were sesepu.
• seseu
• seuDescribes removing the husk or the outer skin of something.
• shadabuDescribes sitting with the legs spread apart in an indecent manner.
• shadagu
• shakuIf something is shaku, it is so full that it spills over. Example: the granary was shaku with maize. Also describes falling on one's back.
• shanyaUsed of someone lying down in a way that shows exhaustion or pain; also of the falling of something that cannot stand on its own, and of a person or animal tumbling over and over.
• shapu
• shiThe slight sound made by a large snake, either as it moves or when it is angered.
• shiDescribes tying something tightly, as when a woman binds a bundle of grass fast.
• shidu
• shishishiDescribes the hardening of something that had been soft, such as sadza. Also describes tying something tightly.
• shishivaDescribes remaining fixed upon one thing, unwilling to be parted from it.
• shoche
• shodoDescribes filling a sack very full; compare shutu. Also describes being injured at the joints of the body where bones meet, through a misstep or through being trodden on.
• shokoshokoThe rattling noise made by groundnuts that have not yet been shelled.
• shozhono
• shukutuDescribes things burning without any flame. Also describes feeling weak in the body. Compare rukutu.
• shuraDescribes the crushing or squashing of things such as eggs or dry leaves.
• shura
• shutuDescribes an angry person's silence — being so sullen that they want nobody to speak to them; e.g. a man who came home late and found his wife sitting in silence. Also used of things being packed full, as in a sack or elsewhere.
• shwakataThe sound made by dry leaves when they are trodden on.
• shwape
• shwatuVariant spelling of "shwape".
• shwauDescribes the thorough drying out of trees or other things that were formerly soft and green. Once the rains had gone, the maize was left dried right out.
• shwe
• shwetaKuti shweta shweta describes the walk of a person who is not wearing anything. Kuti shwete shwete describes the walk of a person wearing tight-fitting clothes.
• shwi-iDescribes being completely full, as a bus packed full of people; also of slamming on the brakes suddenly.
• si
• sikaDescribes doing something wholeheartedly, without turning back; if your elder brother says sika to playing the guitar, you will not budge him from it.
• sikiDescribes making as if to do something and then holding back, as in feinting a punch at someone.
• simuDescribes getting up quickly, springing to one's feet. Example: when the people saw the snake they got up at once.
• sipitiDescribes a person standing bolt upright.
• sobodoDescribes eating little by little, a small bit at a time.
• sonhoTo dream of falling from a great height.
• sonhomoDescribes something snapping or breaking and then tumbling over and over.
• sononoDescribes following something everywhere it goes, as a dog that kept close behind VaMuchazvirega as they went off to a beer-drink.
• sororoDescribes arriving at or leaving a place softly and quietly, without anyone seeing.
• sudunuDescribes the untying or loosening of a place that had been tied up. Compare tepfenyu.
• suduruDescribes moving from where you were and going a little way further off, as when people shifted a short distance away from others while discussing their family affairs.
• sudzunuDescribes the coming loose or undoing of things that had been tied or bound together. Compare svudzunu, sukunu.
• sukuDescribes shoving something off to one side without caring about it, or out of anger; also the letting go of something that had been held or tied up, as in: if I turn this dog loose, nobody will stand there. Compare sunde, supfu.
• sukunuVariant spelling of "sudzunu".
• sumuVariant spelling of "simu".
• sunaUsed when something is placed with its top turned to face downwards.
• sunasunaDescribes bending or stooping down towards the ground.
• sunataDescribes drinking by sucking. Related to -natira.
• sundeDescribes simply abandoning something you were holding or looking after; e.g. a child who, on being told about school, dropped everything and went without having eaten a thing. Compare suku, supfu.
• sungunuDescribes the coming loose of things that had been tied together.
• sunhuDescribes letting go or releasing what one is holding.