Nyaudzosingwi starting with GW

Figurative Expressions

• gwaDescribes striking or chopping with a stone or some other object. Compare gwe.
• gwaDescribes a place, or a clay object that was wet, becoming hard and dry; also the drying up of water, as in a well. Also describes snapping off, as a dry stick does.
• gwa gwa gwa
• gwaba gwabaDescribes the slow, little-by-little walking of a person or animal whose knees have no strength. The sick person walked gwaba gwaba as though about to fall.
• gwabadaRepeated as gwabada gwabada, it describes a person walking noisily, like someone wearing oversized shoes. The illustrative example is incomplete.
• gwabadaraDescribes falling down out of exhaustion. Compare gwadara.
• gwabhuDescribes pulling off a lid or a patch from where it was stuck, or finishing off what one was doing. Example: the bottle top went gwabhu, and the drinker started on the beer inside. Compare kwetsu.
• gwabvu
• gwacharaUsed of a vessel or utensil that has fallen with a clatter. He flung down the bundle of firewood and it went gwachara on the ground. Also used of a person collapsing from tiredness or weakness.
• gwachata
• gwada
• gwadabuDescribes lifting off a heavy cover or lid that was closing a vessel or some other place.
• gwadabvuDescribes ripping or tearing something open with a horn, or scratching at it forcefully.
• gwadagwa
• gwadaraDescribes dropping or falling flat to the ground. He was struck with that knobkerrie and fell flat on the ground.
• gwadara gwadaraDescribes the struggling and rising up of an animal that had been lying down on the ground.
• gwagwada
• gwajanuDescribes the coming apart of pieces of metal that had been fastened or joined together. The plough struck the rocks and went gwajanu, with pieces flying this way and that. Compare kwetsu.
• gwajataThe sound of something falling noisily, as when a bundle of firewood is dropped on the ground.
• gwaju
• gwamuUsed of a person who has been given a hard, heavy slap.
• gwanguDescribes scooping something out, such as milk from a container, using a ladle.
• gwanhu
• gwanzuUsed of a log that has been split down the middle; also of striking a hard slap. He was dealt a resounding slap and the boy saw stars in broad daylight.
• gwaradaThe sound made by a stiff, hardened hide. Compare kwanyanu.
• gwaragwada
• gwaragwadaUsed of a thing that makes a grating, rattling noise when it is bent or crumpled.
• gwaranuThe slight noise made when opening or closing a door that scrapes against the ground.
• gwashuVariant spelling of "gwishu".
• gwauDescribes barking loudly and forcefully.
• gwavaDescribes standing at a distance from the person to whom one wishes to make a request; a worker does so when asking the farm manager for leave. Also describes shifting from one spot to another while remaining seated.
• gwavava
• gweDescribes people coming upon one another suddenly and unexpectedly. Also describes settling on top of something: the baboon, having eaten its fill of maize, went gwe and sat on top of a rock in the field. Also describes striking a person, animal or vessel with a stone or some other object.
• gweba gwebaDescribes walking little by little in a way that shows there is no strength in the knees.
• gwebede gwedebe
• gwebuDescribes prising off a lid or lifting a flat slab of stone to see what is beneath it. He lifted the flat stone gwebu and saw a scorpion.
• gwedeDescribes things, especially metal ones, fitting closely together when they are being joined.
• gwede
• gwede gwedeDescribes making a noise like that of a wagon on the move. Also describes rocking something such as a pole planted in the ground so as to work it loose. He first rocked the pole gwede gwede, then pulled it out easily.
• gwede reDescribes walking little by little in a way that shows a lack of strength.
• gwedeba
• gwedebu
• gwedemuDescribes banging dishes together. The plates were clattered gwedemu so that mother would hear that the sadza was finished. Also describes jabbing someone under the chin, done by a person who has been provoked.
• gwedu
• gwedzva gwedzvaDescribes walking without lifting the legs much, in a manner showing lack of strength.
• gwedzvede gwedzvedeDescribes walking with the legs dragging along because of tiredness.
• gwegwedu
• gwegwendereThe clattering sound a metal vessel makes when it falls onto hard ground. Mother heard a plate go gwengwendere and ran to where the dishes were being washed.
• gwejeDescribes things, especially metal ones, fitting closely together. Compare gedye.
• gweje gweje
• gwejenuDescribes the forcing apart of pieces of metal that are joined together. Used, for example, of a door being wrenched open so that those shut inside can get out.
• gwendereThe noise made by vessels or utensils knocking repeatedly against one another.
• gwengwendere
• gwenjere
• gwerebvuVariant spelling of "gwabvu".
• gwerede gwerede
• gwerenuDescribes the removing of the barrier poles that close the entrance of a cattle pen or a garden.
• gwi
• gwiDescribes cutting through and severing something in a single stroke. Also used of a person who is strong and in good health.
• gwi mb uDescribes the tearing or breaking off of a branch from a tree.
• gwibaDescribes vehicles crashing into one another and denting each other; also the bringing of horns together as bulls do when fighting. Also used of blocking up an opening that stands gaping.
• gwibuDescribes cutting something into two pieces, as when he cut the sugarcane and shared it between Tendai and Zivanai. Also describes laughing in a way that shows a free and happy heart.
• gwindiriDescribes a person being in good health and sturdy — as when an old man is still strong although he has lived many years. Also used of a thing lying just where it has been thrown down, looking of no use.
• gwipfuDescribes breaking something off with the hands; he broke off the morsel and threw it into his mouth.
• gwiriDescribes setting off on a journey, or following a trail where an animal has passed.
• gwirididiDescribes the sky being closed over with cloud. When the early morning is overcast in this way, the elders say that something ominous is going to happen.
• gwirigwidiDescribes darting into a hole at once; the creature shot into its hole on seeing the dogs coming.
• gwiririDescribes breathing noisily while asleep. A person who breathes gwiriri in their sleep is not taken along to share a sleeping place.