inyonga
English: hip

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

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Izaci - Idioms