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English-Kalanga Quick Reference Dictionary

Search English headwords and Kalanga equivalents from the draft bilingual dictionary.

L entries

191 entries

leaves

mazhani (Lil.); also refers to tea leaves, even when processed and ready for consumption.

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left

lumehwe (Nya.); lumeshwe (Lil.); -yena (past tense of leave: e.g. waka yenda - he/she left).

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length

1. -lefu (e.g. ku-lefu, tji- lefu: it is long). 2. -ndefu (i-ndefu: it is long, as in a distance) (see also tall and height).

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level

n. 1. danho (Nya.). 2. datho (Lil.) (usu. with reference to physical structures). 3. mamo (usu. with reference to human status in society or an organization).

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light

1. tjedza (gen.). 2. luvone (lamp). 3. voneka (as in to shine light). 4. -lelu (as in lightweight: ku-lelu - it is light). 5. -ndelu (i-ndelu: it is light).

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like

1. daa (e.g. ndo daa izela: I like sleeping; see also love). 2. sa. 3. -daa (e.g. ndo kudaa: I love you; uno ndi daa: she/he loves me). 4. daana (love each other).

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lip

nlomo (usu. distinguished as nlomo wa pasi - lower lip; and nlomo wa pehhugwi - upper lip).

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This is a draft edition for public comment and correction. Entry wording and dialect labels follow The Bulilima-Mangwe Institute of Technology Comprehensive Bilingual English-TjiKalanga Quick Reference Dictionary (PDF edition). © Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Moyo 2026.

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