lightning
lupenyo (Nya.); lipenyo (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
lightning flash
penya.
Suggest a correctionlightweight
lelu.
Suggest a correctionlike
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).
Suggest a correctionlime
kalaga (Nya.); kalaka (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlimp
hudza (Nya.); shudza (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionline
ntalo; nzila.
Suggest a correctionline
n. 1. nzila (gen.). 2. ntshara (usu. a line drawn on paper).
Suggest a correctionlines
mitalo; mizila.
Suggest a correctionlion
humba (Nya.); shumba (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlip
nlomo (usu. distinguished as nlomo wa pasi - lower lip; and nlomo wa pehhugwi - upper lip).
Suggest a correctionLippia javanica
mvavani.
Suggest a correctionlips
milomo (usu. almost always used in the plural).
Suggest a correctionlipstick
mafuta emilomo; lipstikhi (coloq.).
Suggest a correctionliquid drop
dong'we.
Suggest a correctionliquid drops
madong'we.
Suggest a correctionlisten
1. whilila (gen.). 2. whililisa (listen attentively). 3. bhulutana (usu. during a public address).
Suggest a correctionlisten (cause to)
teyedzesa.
Suggest a correctionlisten (make)
teyedzesa.
Suggest a correctionlittle
1. homanana (Nya. n.). 2. shomanana (Lil. n.) (e.g. ku-homanana: it is little; ishomanana: it is little; unshomanana: usu. ref. to person being thin).
Suggest a correctionlive
1. gala (as in live at a particular place). 2. tjila (as in being alive). 3. bukhoma (as in a live session or performance).
Suggest a correctionliver
tjilopa.
Suggest a correctionlivestock enclosure
butenhelo (Nya.); butethelo (Lil.) (see also danga).
Suggest a correctionlivestock famine
mpaalo.
Suggest a correctionlivestock trail
mwahha (Nya.); ng’wazha (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionliving person
ntjili (Nya.); itjili (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlizard
tjibululu.
Suggest a correctionload
ntoolo (see also long ago: ntolo).
Suggest a correctionloaf
lofu.
Suggest a correctionloan
kwelete (Nya.); ikwelete (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlobola
malobolo.
Suggest a correctionlock
n. khiye; khiyi; khii.
Suggest a correctionlock
v. khiya.
Suggest a correctionlog
1. danda (large block of wood, usu. dry). 2. guni (small block of wood, wet or dry). 3. kwala pasi (to log or take logs).
Suggest a correctionlogs
makuni.
Suggest a correctionloin skin
ntsito.
Suggest a correctionloincloth
nhele (Nya.); thele (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionloins
nhunji (Nya.); thunji (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionloneliness
buruthu; buyendasi.
Suggest a correctionlong
lefu.
Suggest a correctionlong after
hulehule (Nya.); shuleshule (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlong ago
ntolo (see also burden; load: ntoolo).
Suggest a correctionlong long ago
ntolontolo.
Suggest a correctionlong-necked bird
swinga.
Suggest a correctionlonging
hubo (Nya.); shubo (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlook
linga.
Suggest a correctionlook (make)
hhohhedza (Nya.); shozhedza (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlook around
linganya.
Suggest a correctionlook askance
dzondola.
Suggest a correctionlook at oneself
zwilinga.
Suggest a correctionlook at privates
tuka.
Suggest a correctionlook down
tayidza meho (Nya.); thayedza mesho (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlook for
haka (Nya.); shaka (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlook into
hohhela (Nya.); shozhela (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionlook sideways
tjebuka (also look behind; look over your shoulder).
Suggest a correctionlook sullen
thunama.
Suggest a correctionloop
tjihitjelo (Nya.); ihweto (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionloose
1. nyeba (usu. something tied up). 2. zwunguzika (usu. of physical structures).
Suggest a correctionloose garment
purapura.
Suggest a correctionloose sand
nsenya.
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.