Nyaudzosingwi starting with K

Figurative Expressions

• kaDescribes tying things up, as in: he tied his luggage with a rope ka and then set off along the path. Also describes striking one hard object against another, as in: he struck him on the head with a stick ka.
• ka ka kaDescribes pulling a rope or wire so that it binds tightly. Also describes stammering or faltering in speech. Compare bvabva, mvamva.
• kabadaVariant spelling of "kwabada".
• kabada kabadaDescribes the walk of a person wearing oversized shoes, so that they slap against the feet; also the walk of someone dragging the shoes along, as a weak person does; also walking hurriedly with the legs straightened out.
• kabiVariant spelling of "kamhi".
• kabiDescribes putting a large piece of food into the mouth: he took a sweet potato from the dish and put the whole of it in. Also throwing food into the mouth quickly, or snatching at something to eat. Compare kacha.
• kabuDescribes biting into meat, as in: the hyena bit the cow kabu on the thigh. Also used of sleeping outside or without any covering, and of the way a dead person or animal lies; also of a vessel or a stream being full or being filled up. Compare kunaunva, nde.
• kabu kabuDescribes butting with the horns. Also describes eating quickly, as a dog does.
• kabvauDescribes tearing or ripping something open over a wide area (compare bvaru); also cutting a thing with another, sharp object (compare randau).
• kabvuDescribes tearing something apart or cutting off a large piece, as in: the greedy young man cut kabvu a huge chunk of meat. Compare dyu.
• kabwadaUsed of a stomach or a sack that has caved inwards, showing that there is nothing inside. Also describes the way a person lies down when they are at a loss for what to do, in a pitiable state.
• kachaDescribes snatching at something to eat, or the hurried eating of a hungry person. Also used of being astonished at unusual happenings, of boarding a bus or car (compare kata), and of taking something by force.
• kachiDescribes choking on saliva or on food that has stuck in the throat; also snatching at food (compare kacha), and breaking into a conversation that you find already under way.
• kachuUsed when you crush something with a stone; to say kachu to a thing is to have smashed it.
• kachu kachuDescribes the way a dog eats. Also used of moulding sadza by turning it round and round in the dish.
• kadabuDescribes taking a piece off something by biting or cutting it; also digging with force.
• kadyaDescribes drinking while swallowing in a way that makes an audible noise. Compare gadya.
• kadzvaDescribes putting something such as a jersey over the shoulder.
• kahaDescribes showing astonishment at something.
• kahananaDescribes being puzzled or baffled by something. Also describes staring fixedly at something. Compare tsviriri.
• kakaakaDescribes stretching oneself while standing (compare zazanu). Also used of something being filled right up to the top, like a hill, or of many people standing in a line: the women stood strung out in a queue on their way to the well.
• kakaanuDescribes pulling out or dragging towards you something that lies a short distance away.
• kakabvuDescribes biting a large piece off something hard. Also describes scratching the skin when scratching oneself.
• kakacha kakacha
• kakachiDescribes snatching something and eating it straight away.
• kakaiDescribes walking while leaning to one side, showing that the body is in pain.
• kakai kakaiDescribes drinking quickly, swallowing a great deal at one time.
• kakanyaDescribes walking while dragging one's limbs along, as a person with sore legs does, or one who is full of self-regard.
• kakanyuDescribes straightening a wire by pulling it.
• kakanyuDescribes tearing something off with the teeth, as one does when eating the sinew on a bone.
• kakara kakaraDescribes walking a little at a time in a way that shows the walking is proving difficult for the person.
• kakararaDescribes rising up slightly in a manner that shows dignity or importance.
• kakashaDescribes the coarse, rough feel of a thing: when you handle something that is not smooth or slippery, you feel it as kakasha. Compare kwakwasha.
• kakashuDescribes the way a dead person lies (compare kabu, kungunya); also the fullness of a container used for carrying, such as a large pail or a sack, as in: the sack was packed kakashu with grain.
• kakashuDescribes snapping or tearing off something hard with the teeth.
• kakataUsed of arguing stubbornly, in a way that cannot be checked. Also used of climbing up a tree or a hill. Compare kata kata.
• kakauDescribes biting and pulling at the same time as you tear off tough meat or sinew.
• kakavaDescribes being argumentative, refusing to listen to what others think.
• kakayaDescribes struggling or labouring as one walks, in a way that shows the person is in pain.
• kamanyaDescribes walking quickly.
• kambaiUsed of moving about on the hands and legs, as a small child does.
• kambashaDescribes moving along slowly and creepingly as one walks, the way a tortoise (kamba) does.
• kambuDescribes eating rapidly with the fingers, as in: just eat this porridge up kambu kambu, it has cooled. Also describes helping oneself to an excessive amount of relish.
• kamhiDescribes failing to walk properly because of the gingerly way you step on the ground when you have injured your leg.
• kamuUsed of taking away or reducing things by a small amount.
• kanduDescribes throwing something in a hurry.
• kangaiDescribes being of a colour between grey and reddish; also the reddening of a fruit that is about to ripen. Maroro fruits that are kangai are not left alone by mice. Variant: kangavi.
• kangaiDescribes being so preoccupied that one neither thinks about nor notices what is going on. Example: we only came to ourselves when the pot of boiled maize had already burnt.
• kangandaDescribes walking with a heavy tread, like that of an elephant or some other large, powerful animal.
• kanganyaVariant spelling of "chanjama".
• kanganyaDescribes being stiff and hard, as cowhide is. Also used of lying on one's back, or lying stretched out flat: I arrived to find him just lying there flat on his back.
• kanganyaDescribes moving sideways as one walks, or edging backwards in small steps.
• kangaraUsed of the eyes: to make them bulge out while glaring, or when one has been startled. Compare wetsu.
• kangaviVariant spelling of "kangai".
• kangaya kangayaDescribes walking as though you are stepping gingerly on the ground.
• kanhaDescribes showing great astonishment at something that has happened. When they saw a child born with teeth in its mouth, the midwives were simply astounded. Compare kanhama.
• kanha kanha
• kanhama
• kanuDescribes showing surprise, or being struck with alarm.
• kanya kanyaDescribes the walk of a person who is puffing himself up or showing off. Example: the young man strutted (kanya kanya) in front of the girls.
• kanyuDescribes eating food quickly, usually in a way that shows greed. Example: bitter medicine we swallow kanyu before we can taste it.
• kanyuDescribes spreading the legs wide apart, usually when one is squatting. Also used of weeding vigorously.
• kanyu kanyuUsed of mixing sadza with milk together as one eats it.
• kanzvaVariant spelling of "dzva".
• kapa
• kapa kapa
• kapi kapiDescribes drinking water by scooping it up hurriedly with the hands. Example: he quickly drank kapi kapi of water at the stream before crossing the river.
• kapuUsed of wiping sweat off with the hand: I wiped off the sweat and straightened up in the row. Also of skimming the froth off the top of milk (compare weru), and of stripping the skin or bark off a tree (compare svuu).
• kapuDescribes staring hard at something, either in astonishment or when there is something you are expecting or watching for.
• karakataVariant spelling of "kata".
• karanjanjaDescribes leaning backwards on the back of the head, with the knees bent up.
• karuDescribes being startled or seized with alarm, or being filled with doubt, when something surprising and frightening happens. Example: he gave a start (karu) on seeing a snake in front of him. Compare kanu.
• kaseDescribes the giving off of a foul-smelling odour. You catch kase when someone who does not bathe passes in front of you.
• kaseUsed of the rain stopping falling.
• kashuDescribes being full, as a sack or pocket packed tight with things. Compare shaku.
• kashuDescribes tearing something off with the teeth, as a dog does when eating meat.
• kasvaDescribes the dangling of something that has nothing holding it up from below: a cow's udder always just hangs like this. Compare rabada, kasve kasve, kasvata.
• kataDescribes climbing up on top of something high. Examples: he climbed (kata) onto the roof of the house using a ladder; all the monkeys clambered (kata kata) up the tree.
• katabvuDescribes cutting deeply into the skin or the flesh. Compare nye-e.
• katai katai
• katanuDescribes removing clothing from the body. Example: he stripped off his clothes (katanu) and got in among the blankets. Also used of pulling a garment or cloth free when it has caught on thorns or wire. Compare kumu.
• katuUsed of a fire that has been small and then goes katu: it begins to blaze up much more strongly than it was before. Antonym: ngandu.
• katyaDescribes a person showing great astonishment. Compare katyama.
• katyamaVariant spelling of "katya".
• kavanguDescribes the spilling or gushing out of things that are watery. Variant: kabvau.
• kavari kavariDescribes the walking of a person who is in a great hurry. Compare kavaya kavaya.
• kaviDescribes digging a small hole in the ground, putting seed in it and covering it over. Example: groundnuts should simply be dibbled in (kavi kavi) with a hoe, rather than being scattered behind the plough.
• kavuDescribes kicking or striking out with the legs.
• kayayaVariant spelling of "farara".
• kayayaDescribes failing to walk properly, as though your legs were weighing you down. Compare dhananga dhananga, tanja tanja.
• kazhu
• kazhuUsed of grinding or milling coarsely, so that the result is not fine.
• keThe sound made by cloth or a piece of material as it tears slightly or rips.
• ke ke ke-eDescribes the tearing of a cloth as it rips on little by little.
• ke ke ke-eDescribes a short burst of laughter in a high-pitched voice; when a person is said to go ke ke ke-e, they laugh briefly in a high voice, as happens with a giggle. Compare ka ka ka-a.
• kecheThe sound of a gun being cocked, or of a knife being folded shut. Also the sound of a lock as it is being locked. Compare kede.
• kedeVariant spelling of "keche".
• kedeDescribes going inside quickly. Compare keche, potyo.
• keke-e
• kekerereDescribes dragging a person or some other heavy thing, hauling it far off. Example: the teacher dragged him kekerere to his office to beat him. Compare kukururu, kwekwerere.
• kekerereDescribes the dragging of something light, not heavy, which makes an audible scraping noise. Compare kukururu.
• kere kereUsed of a hen's call: when a hen cries kere kere it is about to lay eggs.
• kereketyeVariant spelling of "keche".
• ketu ketuDescribes counting things out one by one, as one would with paper money. Used as in: all his money was counted out ketu ketu, and it was handed to him right there.
• kibiDescribes smearing or pouring something on in excess. Examples: Marwei had smeared oil on her face (kibi), saying it was the fashion; the daughter-in-law put so much salt (kibi) in the relish that people could not eat it.
• kichaDescribes the locking together of people who are beginning to wrestle.
• kichiDescribes something being caught or hooked, catching onto a peg or some such place. Compare kibi, haka.
• kikiri kikiriUsed of people grappling in a wrestling match, each trying to throw the other to the ground.
• kikiri riDescribes fighting hard, grappling and wrestling with another person.
• kikirikitiVariant spelling of "kikiriri".
• kindi kindiThe sound of a drum being beaten.
• kindingindi
• kindingu kindinguThe sound made by a fairly large drum. Compare kindi kindi.
• kiri kiriDescribes the running of an animal fleeing at very great speed.
• kiri kiriDescribes the ululating a person makes when they are very happy.
• kirikitiDescribes jumping down to the ground from a high place. Compare jiti.
• kiririDescribes stepping on a ball to bring it to a standstill. Also used of marking an opponent in a game of football when you are trying to take the ball from him.
• kiyinuDescribes the springing open of a padlock when you have turned its little one inside it. Antonym: kiye.
• ko
• ko-oVariant spelling of "ko".
• koboThe sound made by a small object thrown into water. Variant: kobvo.
• koboDescribes the bite of a snake. Used as in: he climbed a tree to pick fruit and was bitten kobo by a snake that was in it.
• kobodoDescribes the gaping emptiness of a vessel when it no longer holds anything. Compare kwabada.
• kobvoVariant spelling of "kobo".
• kobvo kobvoThe sound heard when a person walks through mud, or when wearing shoes full of water.
• kocheDescribes joining things together by hooking or fastening them, as one would do with a chain.
• kochoThe sound made by something that has fallen into grass or leaves.
• kocho kochoThe sound of things knocking against one another inside a tin that is not full.
• kochomoUsed of something that has fallen from a height, especially out of a tree.
• kochonoDescribes the coming apart or loosening of things that have been joined together, especially a chain. Antonym: koche.
• kodoboDescribes the caving in of a house, or of the soil lying over a hole, falling inwards.
• kodobvoVariant spelling of "kodobo".
• kodomaUsed of a person simply sitting idle with nothing to do, as in: I found him just sitting there, yet nothing at all had been done in the house.
• kodzo kodzoDescribes the circling motion made with a cooking stick when stirring or turning sadza as it is being cooked.
• kodzongo kodzongoDescribes stirring on and on without stopping, as when cooking sadza. Compare kodzo kodzo.
• koi koiDescribes the working of the hips back and forth by a woman or a man during sexual intercourse. Compare kodi kodi.
• kokoda knknrla
• kokonoDescribes scraping or prising off things that are firmly stuck on.
• kokorigoVariant spelling of "kukurigo".
• kokororoThe croaking of frogs.
• kondomaUsed of a person sitting with nothing to do and with a sullen, sulking expression, as in: when he was refused the money, he went out and sat slumped there against the wall.
• kondoroDescribes doing something as though unwillingly, reluctantly.
• kongonya kongonyaDescribes walking in a way that shows one is puffed up with self-importance and afraid of nothing.
• konoDescribes giving something to someone while showing that you have no wish to give it, handing it over only because there is nothing else you can do.
• konongoDescribes scraping out the little bits of food that remain, using a finger or a small stick.
• korofi korofiDescribes weeding in a manner that shows the person is lazy.
• koromoDescribes something falling to the ground, tumbling and rolling down from a height.
• koshomoDescribes knocking fruit that is up in a tree so that it falls to the ground. Compare kuzhumu.
• koto kotoThe sound of water flowing noisily.
• kotsiDescribes the nodding of the head of a person who is being overcome by sleep.
• kovoDescribes the pecking of a chicken as it eats.
• kozomoDescribes a person, animal or fruit falling out of a tree.
• kubuUsed of the falling asleep of a tired person, who no sooner reaches his bed than sleep takes him.
• kubvuThe sound made by a large object as it falls into water.
• kucheDescribes scattering or pouring far too much of something into something else. Mai Chorosi put salt kuche into her husband's relish, wanting to make it unbearable for him; the herdboys let the cattle kuche into VaShaya's garden, in revenge for having been scolded by him.
• kudubuDescribes a sudden fall, when a person unexpectedly drops to the ground, as in: Misheki stepped on a banana skin and went down on the back of his head.
• kuhumuDescribes the dropping of many fruits from a tree all at once, as when a strong wind brings down mazhanje so that the ground is covered with them. Also describes the coming away or detaching of something that was covering or stuck onto something.
• kukururuVariant spelling of "kekerere".
• kumuDescribes stripping a garment off the body in haste, as when a man gets home, whips off his work clothes, pulls on khakis and is straight out again. Also of metal or a bolt that was held fast coming loose or coming away quickly.
• kundumaDescribes a person sitting sullen and scowling, saying nothing. As in: 'If you stare at me like that, am I the one who told them to insult you?'
• kunyunguDescribes dancing in which one works the waist, twisting and rolling it.
• kurundunduUsed of a person sitting dead silent, unwilling to speak to anyone, as in: when we reached our aunt's home we found her husband just sitting there mute, so we took our leave before we had meant to.
• kushuDescribes the way a tired person lies down, simply flinging themselves down and dozing off just like that.
• kutuDescribes tipping out or dumping down things one has been carrying.
• kutu-uDescribes a stifling smell that hangs everywhere, especially after someone has broken wind.
• kutunuDescribes pulling off one's clothes and flinging them aside. As in: Bheni showed that he was angry — when he got up he tore off his shirt, bellowing.
• kuzvuDescribes being slightly hurt, with only the top layer of skin coming off, after scraping against something.
• kwabuDescribes opening something by force; also pulling something off by force from where it was stuck fast.
• kwabvuVariant spelling of "gwabvu".
• kwachaThe sound of things falling to the ground noisily. When the thief tried to fish out a wallet full of money, the owner turned round, and the wallet fell with a kwacha.
• kwachaThe clattering noise made by pieces of metal striking against one another, as in: when we heard the gate go kwacha kwacha we knew at once that those thieves had come back. Compare kweche kweche.
• kwachanuDescribes forcibly pulling apart things that were joined together.
• kwachataUsed of money falling to the ground with a noise and scattering all over the place.
• kwachuDescribes biting off a piece with the teeth forcefully. Also of taking money or a quantity of other things all at one go.
• kwachuDescribes answering someone angrily.
• kwachuDescribes counting paper money one note at a time.
• kwadabuDescribes pulling something off from where it is stuck; also lifting something away from where it lies in order to see what is underneath it.
• kwakuDescribes setting off suddenly, without any warning. As in: when the thief saw the police he shot into the car and sped off.
• kwakuDescribes jumping, hopping or springing a short distance, as a flea does. Also used of dishing out a small amount of food from the pot onto a plate.
• kwakwanuDescribes the peeling away of something from where it was stuck, as in: he eased off the bandage he had on gently, because it had stuck to the hair on his legs.
• kwakwara kwakwara
• kwakwashaVariant spelling of "kakasha".
• kwakwasha kwakwashaDescribes the movement of some large-bodied creature or thing through grass or trees.
• kwamuDescribes slapping someone across the face or on the head. Also describes stripping bark off a tree, or pulling something off the place where it was stuck fast.
• kwanguDescribes finishing off the little that is left. VaPasi arrived at VaZijena's place and drank up all the beer kwangu, so that VaZijena found nothing but an empty pot. Compare kwengu.
• kwangwaDescribes listening very intently, with the ears fully pricked up. Compare -bengwa.
• kwangwa ngwaDescribes opening the ears wide and listening very closely so as to hear everything that is being said.
• kwangwamaDescribes the way something that is not level with the rest sticks out or protrudes.
• kwanyanuDescribes the sudden, hurried getting up of a person from where they had been sitting.
• kwanzuDescribes splitting firewood, or something else, lengthwise along its grain. Compare kwazu, banzu.
• kwapuDescribes being struck in the face with a slap all of a sudden. Chipo only felt her face go numb after being hit kwapu with a slap she never even saw coming.
• kwara kwaraDescribes the running of an animal whose paws are spread wide apart, such as a lion or a hare.
• kwarabvuDescribes scratching oneself with the fingernails so as to leave very long marks.
• kwaradzuVariant spelling of "kwarabvu".
• kwarakwashuDescribes getting up in great haste, as done by someone who had been sitting or lying down. Also used of doing something hurriedly without having told anyone beforehand that you were going to do it.
• kwarakwashukuTo sleepwalk is to wake up in a dream and start walking immediately.
• kwaranzuDescribes scratching with the fingernails very quickly, leaving behind long pale streaks.
• kwaru kwaru
• kwashuDescribes a rope or bark-strap snapping right through into two pieces. Also describes starting on something in a great hurry, and sometimes without warning: Mother set off for the field so early that by the time grandfather arrived she had already gone.
• kwasvaiDescribes looking down at the ground out of shyness or embarrassment.
• kwasvataDescribes the caving in of something, as happens to a ball or a tyre that has lost its air.
• kwasveDescribes pushing the water at the sides of a boat backwards so that the boat moves forward.
• kwataDescribes the falling to the ground of something light in weight.
• kwatanu
• kwataraDescribes something falling to the ground from the sky or from somewhere high up.
• kwatiDescribes going right up close to something; also of placing a thing where it fits exactly.
• kwatsamuDescribes striking a person with an open-handed slap. Compare kwatsu.
• kwatsuVariant spelling of "kwatsamu".
• kwatuDescribes striking very hard with a switch or with an open hand.
• kwatuDescribes the removal of a skin or some other outer covering that was concealing what lay inside or underneath.
• kwauDescribes stripping or peeling a length of bark-rope off its tree.
• kwauDescribes extreme dryness, as when water has dried up in a river or in a pot on the fire. It is the dam that is drying up our river, because ever since it was built the river has never been seen properly full.
• kwauDescribes cutting a very small slice off a piece of fatty meat.
• kwavararaTo sleep prostrate means to lie on your stomach with your whole body touching the ground.
• kwazhamuDescribes striking someone on the face or head with a really painful slap; also of knocking leaves or fruit off a tree with stones or sticks so that they fall to the ground.
• kwazhauDescribes the falling of many fruits or leaves brought down from a tree.
• kwazuVariant spelling of "kwanzu".
• kwazvuDescribes stripping meat off where it is stuck fast to the bone.
• kweDescribes the quick striking of a matchstick against its box in the wish to make the match light.
• kwe-eDescribes seizing hold of something and immediately beginning to drag it along.
• kwe-eThe loud hooting or wailing sound made by a train as it is about to arrive at or pull out of a station.
• kweba kwebaDescribes the walk of a tired person, who moves along dragging the legs with the body all slumped. Compare kwebede kwebede.
• kwebede kwebedeDescribes the walk of a person who shows that they are exhausted. As in: on his way back from the field he trudged along like this. Compare kweba kweba.
• kwecheDescribes putting the ball into the goal. Before long our football team knocked in another goal kweche, and the whole ground seemed about to burst with people cheering.
• kweche kwecheThe sound made by hosho rattles.
• kwedeDescribes things fitting into one another, one slipping inside the other. As in: the bolt we thought was too big slid right into the hole in the plough.
• kwedeDescribes something dropping into something that is open, has a hole in it, or into a pit. When the second goal went in kwede, we knew we had no chance left, as very little time remained before the end of the match.
• kwedeya kwedeyaDescribes the way a person may walk a little while showing signs of tiredness.
• kweguDescribes showing signs of old age, or of being worn out and shabby.
• kwekwerereVariant spelling of "kekerere".
• kwenha kwenhaUsed when a person walks along in a manner that shows they are angry.
• kwenja kwenjaDescribes the walk of an emaciated person, as though their bones were rattling. When someone has been seriously ill, they end up going kwenja kwenja.
• kwenyu
• kwenyu kwenyuDescribes scratching repeatedly at a place that is itching. Example: I only scratched this rash a little and it then began to bleed.
• kwerekwesheThe sound made by something that moves along dragging its belly. A lizard went kwerekweshe across the bare rock.
• kwerendendeDescribes the movement of people or animals gathered together and going along in one direction.
• kwerevaDescribes a person standing still, showing that they are at a loss over something that has happened and taken them by surprise. Example: when the ball was put through the goal, the goalkeeper was left just standing there.
• kwesereDescribes a perfect fit: when a peg sits kwesere in its hole, the two match exactly. Of a person, to be full kwesere is to have arrived completely, to be a thoroughly upright person. "I do not think Paradzai is entirely kwesere to me, because what he did to me in front of everyone left me ashamed with nowhere to hide."
• kweshe kwesheThe noise made when someone rubs metal against something hard. The axe went kweshe kweshe as it was being sharpened on the rock.
• kwesva kwesvaUsed when a person walks along showing shame at what they have done. Example: He walked off out of the field where he had been stealing maize, after being caught there by the owners of the field.
• kwetsemuDescribes striking someone in the face with a hard slap.
• kweya kweyaDescribes walking a little way with a slow, shuffling gait.
• kwiDescribes gripping something firmly. Example: the policeman seized the thief by the hand.
• kwibaDescribes covering something up quickly. He took the lid and covered the sadza kwiba.
• kwibuDescribes people suddenly bursting into laughter. We all went kwibu when the teacher scolded John.
• kwichoUsed of a person suddenly being seized by the throat without expecting it. Example: as they fought, Ngoni was all at once grabbed by the throat by Farai, so much so that he could scarcely even breathe.
• kwida kwidaDescribes walking along with one's eyes on the ground, showing that one is aggrieved or sulking.
• kwidibaDescribes covering something up all of a sudden. When they saw people coming towards their home, they clapped the lid on the pot of maize kwidiba and tucked it away behind the others. As he went on crying, he was suddenly given a slap kwidiba, and then fell silent.
• kwidzi kwidziDescribes the glittering, flashing shine given off by a garment covered in sparkling specks.
• kwindiUsed of the sky when it is heavy with thick cloud and darkened. Of a person, to be kwindi is to wear a joyless face and not speak to others.