A list of Xitsonga idioms translated to English.
- An idiom is xivulavulelo in Xitsonga.
- An idiom is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light).
- The translation in english are directed and some are interpretations.
- The community is correcting the information on this page.
Xitsonga | English |
---|---|
Ku ba ndlopfu hi xibakele | Direct - To hit an elephant with a fist Meaning - Ambitious goal |
Ku banana hi rhambu ra mfenhe | Direct - To hit each other with a baboons bone Meaning - To exchange gifts with relatives only |
Ku banana hi rhanga ro hisa | Direct - To hit each other with a hot potato Meaning - Ku lumbetana |
Ku bata njiya | Direct - To catch a locust Meaning - To fall |
Ku biha mirhini | Direct - To be ugly in the body Meaning - To be pregnant |
Ku chuveka rinhlapfu | Direct - To stop visiting a place you used to visit |
Ku dya marhambu ya nhloko | Direct - To eat bones of the head Meaning - Ku ehleketa |
Ku dyeriwa mavele hi timpfuvu | Direct - To have your maize eaten by hippos Meaning - Ku tirha hi ku matimba ivi munhu a lava ku ku tekela ntshovelo wa mintirho ya wena |
Ku faya nsikiti | Direct - To kill an insect Meaning - Ku humesa moya |
Ku fundza marha | Direct - To inflate your chicks Meaning - To crap on yourself |
Ku hlanula swirhendze | Direct - To run away |
Ku hloma matlharhi | Direct - To arm with spears Meaning - To prepare for war |
Ku hundza muti rixile | Direct - To pass a home during the day Meaning - Crazy person |
Ku luka mano | Direct - To make a plan |
Ku nantswa rintiho na xirhendze | Direct - To kiss your finger and hill Meaning - Ku tsutsuma |
Ku omeriwa hi butsu | Direct - When your shoe dries up |
Ku rhindza n'weti | Direct - Waiting for the moon Meaning - It means to wait for something that is not going to happen |
Ku siya va karhele | Direct - To leave them tired Meaning - To win.To be victorious |
Ku tekela enhlokweni | Direct - To take into consideration |
Ku thlotlha timimpfi | Direct - To stir or agitate wasps Meaning - To stir trouble |
Ku tlhoma tinsiva | Direct - To encourage to do wrong |
Ku tlula u nantswa tilo | Direct - To jump and lick the sky Meaning - To deny something |
Ku tlulana milenge | Direct - To cross each other's feet Meaning - To fight. To quarrel |
Ku tsema mubya | Direct - To renegade against parents advise Meaning - To pass a point beyond where parents give up on advising you. |
Ku tshova nenge | Direct - To break a leg Meaning - To impregnate a young woman illegitimately |
Ku tshwa nomo | Direct - To have a burnt mouth |
Ku va na xifuva | Direct - To have a chest Meaning - To be able to keep secret |
Ku xibikula | Direct - To cry |