rub soles (of feet with a stone to
get rid of the cracks) kukudza; alt. hwaya.
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English-Kalanga Quick Reference Dictionary
Search English headwords and Kalanga equivalents from the draft bilingual dictionary.
Dictionary entries
4719 entries
rubbish dumps
tjihhalalota (Nya.); tjizhalanlota (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionrug blanket
jali.
Suggest a correctionruin
1. dongo (sing. abandoned dwellings). 2. tjinyidzila (to ruin or spoil for someone else). 3. matongo (abandoned dwellings).
Suggest a correctionruined hut
bhangwa; alt. jatja.
Suggest a correctionruins
matongo.
Suggest a correctionrule
1. busa (usu. of government). 2. lawula (usu. of control).
Suggest a correctionruler
nlawuli; alt. nlawuri.
Suggest a correctionrumble (as of lightning or as of
an earthquake) titima (Nya.); didima (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionrumour monger
mbalabali.
Suggest a correctionrumours
makwayi.
Suggest a correctionrun
1. labuka (e.g. to job or participate in athletics). 2. tihha (as in to run away from something).
Suggest a correctionrun across (to meet someone)
tjingamidza.
Suggest a correctionrun for
labukila.
Suggest a correctionrun out (of ideas)
pelegwa.
Suggest a correctionrun, running
labuka.
Suggest a correctionrun to welcome
tihhilila (Nya.); tizhilila (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionrun wild
pembela.
Suggest a correctionrust
rusi.
Suggest a correctionsable antelope
mhalapala (Nya.); phalapala (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsack
1. saka. 2. whomo (n. as in a bag). 3. tata (as in to sack someone from a job).
Suggest a correctionsacking needle
lunji.
Suggest a correctionsacrament
tjilayiilo.
Suggest a correctionsad
1. -buyendasi (e.g. ndina buyendasi: I am sad). 2. -gwadza (e.g. ko gwadza seni: it is so sad).
Suggest a correctionsaddle
sale (as in a horseback seat).
Suggest a correctionsadness
buyendasi.
Suggest a correctionsafari suit
safari.
Suggest a correctionsafety pin
kopelo (Nya.); ikopelo (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsail
1. seyili (n.). 2. yenda ne gungwa (as in set sail by lake or sea).
Suggest a correctionsale
ntengo upasi; seyili (coloq., see also sail, as in covering material).
Suggest a correctionsaleable beer
nndale.
Suggest a correctionsaliva
mate.
Suggest a correctionsalt
munyu.
Suggest a correctionsalt licks
gukuno.
Suggest a correctionsame age
buthaka.
Suggest a correctionsame age (of the)
buthaka.
Suggest a correctionsampling
toswa.
Suggest a correctionsand
nsetje.
Suggest a correctionsandal
hangu (Nya. gen.); shangu (Lil.); sengilisi (coloq.).
Suggest a correctionsandals
masengilisi; hangu (Nya.); shangu (Lil.); alt. mbhatata (esp. if mad e of hard material).
Suggest a correctionSaturday
Nnghibelo.
Suggest a correctionsausage
soseji; vorosi (coloq.).
Suggest a correctionsausages
masoseji.
Suggest a correctionsave
tjengeta; alt. londolodza (esp. saving for a long time for future use, conserving).
Suggest a correctionsave (as in save money,
resources) londolodza.
Suggest a correctionsaw
swayi.
Suggest a correctionsay
leba; bva (Nya.); dwa (Lil.); kaya.
Suggest a correctionsay goodbye
salisa.
Suggest a correctionsay so
jalo.
Suggest a correctionscabies
gwenyankwenya.
Suggest a correctionscale
1. kale (as in measuring device). 2. lizanisa, alt. kala. 3. yela (as to scale up something, to weigh). 4. kaale (Nya.). 5. ikaale (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionscar
banga.
Suggest a correctionscatter
paladza; waya.
Suggest a correctionscattered
andama.
Suggest a correctionschemes
mano.
Suggest a correctionschool
kwele.
Suggest a correctionschool assembly point
kuno kubunganiwa.
Suggest a correctionschool cottage
ng'umba yebadiyi.
Suggest a correctionschool fees
ndipo yezwidiyo.
Suggest a correctionscience
sayensi.
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.