Nyaudzosingwi starting with D

Figurative Expressions

• 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.
• dzudzunuDescribes arriving when people are not expecting it. Example: the madman just appeared, dzudzunu, out of the bush. Compare tutururu.
• dzunduDescribes cutting down weeds with a hoe.
• dzungaUsed of moving about aimlessly, wandering around with no purpose (dzunga dzunga).
• dzvaruDescribes carrying something by placing it on the shoulder.
• dzvatsuDescribes seeing or coming upon someone unexpectedly, when they do not suspect it; as when a mother came upon her child unawares, already holding stolen money.
• dzviDescribes taking hold of something firmly, gripping with force.
• dzvokoDescribes staring at someone to show that you are angry with them or do not like them, without taking your eye off them.
• dzvongoDescribes something such as a log being bent or crooked at one point along it.
• dzvonyoDescribes the drawing back or coming away of the skin that covers the front of a man's organ.
• dzvuDescribes striking something hard with a stick or a switch. Also of provoking someone by shoving them, or nudging them lightly with the elbow; and of growing up out of the age of childishness.
• dzvutuDescribes opening the eyes wide yet not clearly seeing what one is looking at, as though one were dreaming.
• dzwiVariant spelling of "dzvi".