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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 flies 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): Ndinamadolo anzima (E): I am exhausted Literally: My knees are heavy
(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	(X): Ukuba yincukuthu (E): To live off others Literally: To be a bedbug
(X): Ukuba lilulwane (E): Cannot be trusted; takes all sides and is deceitful Literally: to be a bat	(X): Ukuba yingwenya (E): Good, powerful, famous person, of many virtues Literally: to be a crocodile
(X): Ukuba lilitye (E): slow at understanding, hard headed Literally: to be a stone	(X): Ukuba yinkuku (E): To go to bed early Literally: to be a chicken
(X): Ukuba bomvu (E): To be illiterate Literally: To be red	(X): Ukuba neminwe emide (E): to be a thief Literally: to have long fingers
(X): Ukukhatywa yinkawu (E): to be hungry Literally: to be kicked by the monkey	(X): Ukuba yigusha (E): to be humble Literally: to be a sheep
(X): Usana olungakhaliyo lufela embelekweni (E): The squeaky wheel gets the grease Literally: The baby that does not cry, dies on the back of his mother	(X): Akukho nkwali iphandela enye (E): Do not expect others to take care of your responsibilities Literally: There isn't a partridge that scratches (for food) for another
(X): Inkqayi ingena ngenlontlo (E): All accomplishments have humble beginnings Literally: Baldness starts at the temples	(X): Uchane ucwethe (ngotolo) (E): You're exactly right! Literally: You hit the shrew (with the spear)

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Xhosa-English Dictionary

Izaci - Idioms