Xhosa-English Dictionary



Search Phrases

Sponsored Links
Want to see your ad here? Read about Sponsored Links.

Izaci - Idioms

One of the most interesting aspects of a language are the idiomatic expressions that are used to add poetry to expressions. The following is a list of some of the idioms that exist in Xhosa. If you would like to suggest an idiom for us to add, please write to us

(X): Iimpukane eziluhlaza zithi...
(E): I heard it through the grape vine that...
Literally: The green mice are saying...

(X): Unesibindi
(E): She is brave
Literally: She has a liver

(X): Likhupha intlanzi emanzini
(E): It is hot
Literally: The sun is taking the fish out of the water

(X): Kukuza kukaNxele
(E): It is in vain
Literally: It is the coming of Nxele

(X): Intlama idliwe yinja
(E): Things have gone wrong
Literally: The dough's been eaten by the dog

(X): Ixesha lixhatshwe yinja
(E): It's gotten late
Literally: Time's been lapped up by the dog

(X): Izulu limathumb' antaka
(E): The sky is overcast and threatening to rain.
Literally: The sky is the entrails of birds

(X): Iqaqa aliziva kunuka
(E): People are unaware of their own faults
Literally: A skunk doesn't notice its smell

(X): Umaf' evuka njengenyanga
(E): He doesn't give up
Literally: He dies and rises like the moon

(X): Unebala likantsho
(E): He has the mark of the black eagle
Literally: He has a distinguishing feature

(X): Iphala-ndlela
(E): An endless wanderer
Literally: He gallops the road

(X): Ukubamba isisila sehobe
(E): To hold on to unimportant things and not get things of substance
Literally: To grab the tail of a dove

(X): Izimba lendlela alihlumi
(E): A child always interfered with cannot grow
Literally: Corn by the road does not grow

(X): Yeka ukuthanda ihleza ungenamazinyo
(E): Know your limits
Literally: Don't want the bone if you have no teeth

(X): Akukho qili linokuzikhoth' emhlana
(E): Nobody can do everything
Literally: There is nobody so smart he can lick his own back

(X): inyoka nesele
(E): enemies
Literally: frog and snake
Home Instructions Articles About Us Books Forum
Contact Us Sitemap RSS Feeds Sponsors Courses Admin