Silozi is rich in idiomatic and proverbial expressions. For
learners there is often no other source of information about these than from
phrase books and dictionaries. The works on phonology and morphology tend to
concentrate on phonemes, syllables and grammatical constructions. These ‘ready-made
utterances’ (locutions toutes faites – De Saussure) can be difficult to learn
as they seem unanalysable expressions used by mother-tongue speakers on
particular occasions. They are usually listed with an indication of the
situations in which they can be used and their meaning. These phrases are
normally used in a metaphoric sense that goes beyond their literal meaning.
Below is a list of idioms I have found; some will be still
current and in use, others will be dated and perhaps unfamiliar to the modern
speaker. I am happy to hear from readers who may wish to help modernise it;
please feel free to add to or amend this list or even add a little more
concerning the context for use.
Bunde bwa lapa: Deceptive
appearance
Bunde bwa liyemo: All
that glitters is not gold
Kabemba-muca-habeli: Untrustworthy
person, traitor, sell-out
Kashimani kanalolo Hunger
Ki fa ngo ni mulomo It
is very close, right in front of your nose
Kuamuhela ka mazoho amabeli To welcome warmly
Kuba ni bundee: To malinger, to
shirk duty
Kuba ni kacimacima: To be impatient or
short-tempered
Kuba ni pilu ya liiba: To
be inquisitive or afraid
Kuca batu buswazi: to loaf around, to
malinger
Kuca kobe ka mutwa: to live in
prosperity
Kuca mutu lulimi: To
let the cat out the bag, to betray in speech
Kuikalulula: To help oneself to
food
Kuikunga: To be proud
Kuikwetulula: To have food after
a long time feeling hungry
Kuina mwa kazuma To
be in danger or in trouble
Kuina mwa mbombolelwa To
lead a good life
Kuinyaya mati: To
eat a little
Kuipinya lunya To
do oneself injustice
Kukena mwahanu: To interrupt while
talking
Kukena mwandu ya mutu To
commit adultery
Kukenela (mutu) mwa sinyamba To change one’s colours or to be indifferent
Kulunisa hopani mafula ayona To deny someone what they deserve
Kumizeza mati: To
desire greatly for eating or drinking. To crave
Kunyalela mwa lizazi To
have poor or bad in-laws
Kunyalela mwa muluti To
have rich or good in-laws
Kupilela fa linala To
have one foot in the grave. Just hanging on
Kupinya mutu lunya To
do an injustice. To hate
Kupuma lutokwa To
eat a little
Kupuma mati To
eat a little
Kusa wela fafasi To
be loved very much
Kusinduka To
have eaten an ample sufficiency
Kushwa tala To
be hungry, to need to eat.
Kushwa mezi a mwa luswana To
expose yourself to danger
Kutoba pilu To
calm down a little, to reduce anxiety
Kutokwa pilu To
be of bad character
Kutomola mutwa To
help very much
Kutomola pilu To
sympathise with
Kuwa pilu To
be of good character
Kuwisa pilu To
calm down a bit, eat a little
Kwaulu mulimu yomusisani To
have a narrow escape
(Kwahalimu nzila yesisani)
Kuyela seli To
notice
Kuyema pilu To
be of bad character
Mundi wa anuke A
leaderless community
Munyaka silupi A
prostitute, a harlot
Munzi kwande A
village with a bad reputation ‘Sin City?’
Sico mbulaye To
eat to excess
Uce kono un’wate kwaten’i Don’t
eat everything at once
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