skilled person
nzibi; alt. nyambi.
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English-Kalanga Quick Reference Dictionary
Search English headwords and Kalanga equivalents from the draft bilingual dictionary.
Dictionary entries
4719 entries
skin
1. ganda (usu. of humans). 2. gukuta (usu. of animals) (see also leather).
Suggest a correctionskink lizard
dotomosi.
Suggest a correctionskip (as with a monthly event)
tjuludza.
Suggest a correctionskipping rope
koyi.
Suggest a correctionskirt
sketi (Nya.); iketi (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionskull
deenya.
Suggest a correctionslant (lie across)
tjingama.
Suggest a correctionslap
1. mpama (n.). 2. pkhwawula (v.). 3. phayila. 4. phasula.
Suggest a correctionslap (with back of hand)
wakala; wadula.
Suggest a correctionslap (with palm of hand)
bhamula.
Suggest a correctionslash pile
bibi.
Suggest a correctionslate
tjileyiti.
Suggest a correctionslaughter
1. bhaya (as of an oxen). 2. thubula (as of chicken).
Suggest a correctionslave
nlanda (sing.); balanda.
Suggest a correctionsledge
tjileyi.
Suggest a correctionsledges
zwileyi.
Suggest a correctionsleep
yizela; alt. yezela; yizela whope.
Suggest a correctionsleep curled
goonya.
Suggest a correctionsleep open-eyed
nkopehulo (Nya.); nkopeshulo (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsleeping place
buyizelo.
Suggest a correctionsleepy
tshumwayila; alt. tshomwayila.
Suggest a correctionslice
tjilayisi; alt. tjilayi.
Suggest a correctionslice(ing)
1. benda (e.g. of meat into biltong). 2. tjekelela (e.g. of bread into slices). 3. tjeka (e.g. of cutting yellow melons into dry slices [mpale]).
Suggest a correctionslicing
tjekelela (as in cutting bread into slices).
Suggest a correctionslide
swoba; swodzoloka.
Suggest a correctionslightly bitter
hababa (Nya.); shababa (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionslip
swodzoloka.
Suggest a correctionslippery liquid (as from okra)
dani or dang'a.
Suggest a correctionslosh
1. kabhukana (n.). 2. kabhungaya (v.).
Suggest a correctionslowness
bunono; bunya.
Suggest a correctionslowness (in doing something)
bunyolo.
Suggest a correctionslyness
tjenjelela-ntome.
Suggest a correctionsmall
tukununu.
Suggest a correctionsmall axe
hang'wana (Nya.); shakhwana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall baby
luhabana (Nya.); lushabana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall bag
whomwana (Nya.); hong’wana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall basket
tjisenyana (Nya.); isetjana (Lil.); senyana.
Suggest a correctionsmall boy
tjiyisana.
Suggest a correctionsmall boys
zwiyisana.
Suggest a correctionsmall bush
denje or denjana.
Suggest a correctionsmall bushes
matenjana.
Suggest a correctionsmall hammer
hamudlana (Nya.); hamujana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall hare
hugwana (Nya.); shugwana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall hill
tombgwana (Nya.); itombgwana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall hills
zwitombgwana.
Suggest a correctionsmall hyena
mhedlana (Nya.); phejana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall log
bhangwana.
Suggest a correctionsmall mucus
midlana (Nya.); mijana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall or little owl
whundana.
Suggest a correctionsmall ostrich
mhowana (Nya.); phowana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall peanut (a result of poor
crop) bhute.
Suggest a correctionsmall plate
ndigwana.
Suggest a correctionsmall road
zidlana (Nya.); zijana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall shawl
jadlana (Nya.); jajana (Lil.).
Suggest a correctionsmall snake
nyokana.
Suggest a correctionsmall snakes
zwinyokana.
Suggest a correctionsmart clothes
nnkhabo.
Suggest a correctionsmash
phutula.
Suggest a correctionsmear
1. bhoma (as in smear medicine on a would). 2. hhola (Nya.). 3. zhola (Lil.) (as in apply lotion).
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.