burnt food
matshigwa.
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English-Kalanga Quick Reference Dictionary
Search English headwords and Kalanga equivalents from the draft bilingual dictionary.
Dictionary entries
4719 entries
burrow
pala (not to be confused with paala: scrape); mwina (Nya.); ng’wina (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionburrows
mimwina (Nya.); ming'wina (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionburst
phutuka.
Suggest a correctionbury
biganya.
Suggest a correctionbus
bhasi.
Suggest a correctionbush
hango (Nya.); shango (Lil.); tjilambanyika; tjikhwa; makuswi.
Suggest a correctionbush lice
whupa.
Suggest a correctionBushman
N'Tjwawo; Nkhwa (coloq. deemed disrespectful).
Suggest a correctionBushman dance
bhoro.
Suggest a correctionbusiness
bambadzo (bhizinesi, coloq.).
Suggest a correctionbut
koga, ngono.
Suggest a correctionbutchery
bhutja (Nya.); bhutjara (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionbutter
bhatha.
Suggest a correctionbutterfly
whungubele.
Suggest a correctionbuttock
bhato.
Suggest a correctionbuttocks
mapato.
Suggest a correctionbutton
khinipo; alt. khunupo.
Suggest a correctionbutton
n. 1. khunupo, khinipo (for clothes). 2. nhobezi (Nya.). 3. thobedzi (Lil.) (e.g. radio button).
Suggest a correctionbuy
tenga.
Suggest a correctionbuy for each other
tengelana.
Suggest a correctionbuyer
ntengi.
Suggest a correctionbuyers
batengi.
Suggest a correctioncabbage
khabitji.
Suggest a correctioncackle
kekedza.
Suggest a correctioncactus
gonde.
Suggest a correctioncactuses
makonde.
Suggest a correctioncafe
1. ng'umba ye zwodliwa (Nya.). 2. ng'umba ye zwojiwa (Lil.). 3. khafee (Nya. coloq.). 4. khefi (Lil. coloq.).
Suggest a correctioncake
khekhe.
Suggest a correctioncalabash
1. bhepe (small beer mug). 2. nkabo (large beer storage).
Suggest a correctioncalculator
khalikhiyuletha.
Suggest a correctioncalendar
khalenda.
Suggest a correctioncalf
mhulu (Nya.); phulu (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncall
v. 1. dana (to call someone in person). 2. dana: also draw attention to. 3. lidza (to call by phone).
Suggest a correctioncalm
wila zwilopa.
Suggest a correctioncalm (be)
dzikama; biga mapapu (coloq.).
Suggest a correctioncalm down
tundubadza.
Suggest a correctioncalves
mhulu (Nya.); phulu (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncamel
kamela.
Suggest a correctioncamera
khamera.
Suggest a correctioncamp
kampa.
Suggest a correctioncan
n. kwetele.
Suggest a correctioncancel
mmisa; khansela (coloq.).
Suggest a correctioncandle
khandlela (Nya.); keresi (Lil. borrow from Sotho-Tswana).
Suggest a correctioncandy
zwiwidzi (Nya.); nekere (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncane
hamu (Nya.); shamu (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncannibal
dlabanhu (Nya.); jabathu (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncanvas
seyili; alt. sayili.
Suggest a correctioncap
1. kepesi (type of hat). 2. mmisa (e.g. set an upper limit).
Suggest a correctioncapital city
nzinkulu; doropo gulu (coloq.).
Suggest a correctioncaptain
mbhayani.
Suggest a correctioncaptains
babhayani.
Suggest a correctioncapture
bhata.
Suggest a correctioncar
koloyi; tjiyendisi; mota (coloq.); kara.
Suggest a correctioncarcass side
phata.
Suggest a correctioncard
khadi (Nya.); karata (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncards
makhadi (Nya.); karata (Lil.).
Suggest a correctioncare for
thokomela.
Suggest a correctioncareless person
tjapa.
Suggest a correctioncarelessness
busada; butjapa.
Suggest a correctionThis 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.