leak
bhihha (Nya.); bhizha (Lil.).
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English-Kalanga Quick Reference Dictionary
Search English headwords and Kalanga equivalents from the draft bilingual dictionary.
Dictionary entries
4719 entries
lean against
sendama.
Suggest a correctionlean animal
gando.
Suggest a correctionlean meat
dole; gando.
Suggest a correctionleap
1. swetuka (as in a quick leap). 2. nswetuki (the Leaper, commonly associated with the Matobo Hills where it is believed God leaped from).
Suggest a correctionleather
gukuta (see also skin).
Suggest a correctionleather mat
nhobo (Nya.); thobo (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionleave
n. lubaka gwe nyaluluko (as in taking a break from work).
Suggest a correctionleave
v. yenda (as in to leave a particular place).
Suggest a correctionleave (cause someone to leave)
siyisa.
Suggest a correctionleave (something for)
siyila.
Suggest a correctionleave alone
letja; letjedza.
Suggest a correctionleave behind
siya.
Suggest a correctionleaves
mazhani (Lil.); also refers to tea leaves, even when processed and ready for consumption.
Suggest a correctionleft
lumehwe (Nya.); lumeshwe (Lil.); -yena (past tense of leave: e.g. waka yenda - he/she left).
Suggest a correctionleft hand
lumehwe (Nya.); limeshwe (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionleftover food
maladzwa.
Suggest a correctionleg
gumbo (see also foot).
Suggest a correctionlegal practitioner
nmilili.
Suggest a correctionlegs
makumbo.
Suggest a correctionlemon
lemoni.
Suggest a correctionlend
adzima.
Suggest a correctionlength
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).
Suggest a correctionleopard
dindingwe.
Suggest a correctionlessen
tapudza.
Suggest a correctionlesson
tjidiyo.
Suggest a correctionlessons
zwidiyo.
Suggest a correctionlet alone
letja.
Suggest a correctionlet fall
liga.
Suggest a correctionletter
lukwalo.
Suggest a correctionletters
whalo (see also book, books).
Suggest a correctionlettuce
lethisi.
Suggest a correctionlevel
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).
Suggest a correctionlewd person
tjishudzi.
Suggest a correctionliar
nnyepi; dzudzu; n'yepi.
Suggest a correctionliberation fighter
nnghwilatjaba.
Suggest a correctionliberty
swungunuko; alt. swununguko.
Suggest a correctionlice
dzinda.
Suggest a correctionlice eggs
magayi.
Suggest a correctionlicense
n. layisensi (coloq.).
Suggest a correctionlick
nazwa.
Suggest a correctionlid
tjizwino (Nya.); ithibo (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlie
nyepa.
Suggest a correctionlie atop
tanhikana (Nya.); tathikana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlie down
lala.
Suggest a correctionlie supine
wa netiko (Nya.); wa neyitiko (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlife
butjilo (also see health: bupenyu, commonly confused with butjilo).
Suggest a correctionlift
1. milidza (v.). 2. tjimilidzi (as in an elevator lift).
Suggest a correctionlift foot
tshambuka.
Suggest a correctionlift heavy
midula.
Suggest a correctionlift up
milidza.
Suggest a correctionlift up (to look under)
pengula; alt. penyengula.
Suggest a correctionlifter
mmilidzi.
Suggest a correctionlight
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).
Suggest a correctionlight complexion
chi bala.
Suggest a correctionlight fire
besa; layitha (coloq.).
Suggest a correctionlight particles (photons)
sasi.
Suggest a correctionlight waves
sasi.
Suggest a correctionlighten
lengudza.
Suggest a correctionlightness
bulelu.
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.