NAHAU ZA KISWAHILI NA MAANA ZAKE [TRANSLATED SWAHILI SAYINGS]

Imenukuliwa kutoka Gazeti la HABARILEO, Tanzania la Alhamisi, Januari 8 – 14, 2015

Na GENOFEVA MASAOAmekula chumvi nyingi – Ameishi miaka mingi [lived a long life]

Ahadi ni deni – Timiza ahadi yako [be trustworthy; keep your promise]

Amewachukua wazee wake – Anawatunza vizuri wazazi wake [taking good care of parents]

Amekuwa popo – Yu kigeugeu [ a turncoat]

Amevaa miwani – Amelewa pombe [chakari] [inebriation, a drunkard]

Amekuwa mwalimu – Yu msemaji sana [a talkative person]

Amemwaga unga – Amefukuzwa kazi [ dismissed from employment]

Ana ulimu wa upanga – Ana maneno makali [biting words]

Ameongezwa unga – Amepandishwa cheo [promoted]

Agizia risasi – Piga risasi [shoot!]

Chemsha bongo – Fikiri kwa makini [think analytically]

Kuchungulia kaburi – Kunusurika kifo [saved from a worse fate]

Fyata mkia – Nyamaza [keep silent]

Fimbo zimemwota mgongoni -Ana alama ya mapigo ya Fimbo mgongoni [birching scars on ones’ back]

Hamadi kibindoni – Akiba iliyopo kibindoni [savings for a rainy day]

Hawapikiki chungu kimoja -Hawapatani kamwe ! [always at loggerheads]

Kupika majungu – Kufanya mkutano wa siri [conspire a secret meeting]

Kumpiga [kumvika] kilemba cha ukoka – Kumsifu mtu kwa unafiki [kinafiki] [paying lip service]

Kula mlungula – Kula rushwa [receiving a bribe]

Kupelekwa miyomboni – Kutiwa [kupelekwa] jandoni [performing circumcision]

Kujipalia mkaa – Kujitia matatani [get yourself in trouble]

Kumeza [zea] mate – Kutamani [to crave for]

Kumuuma mtu sikio – Kumnong’oneza mtu jambo la siri [tell a secret to someone]
Kumpa nyama ya ulimi -Kumdanganya mtu kwa maneno matamu [using wiles to tell lies]

Kumchimba mtu – Kumpeleleza mtu siri yake to dig one’s secrets]

Kutia chumvi katika mazungumzo – Kuongea habari za uwongo [tell lies]

Vunjika moyo – Kata tamaa [give up]

Yalimkata maini – Yalimtia uchungu [emotional pain]

Kujikosoa – Kujisahihisha [correct your ways]

Kutia utambi – Kuchochea ugomvi [convince someone to fight]

Kumeza maneno – Kutunza siri moyoni [to keep a secret]

Kula njama – Kufanya mkutano wa siri [to conspire a secret meeting]

Kumkalia mtu kitako – Kumsema/kumsengenya [to talk about someone]

Kupiga vijembe – Kumsema mtu kwa fumbo [use idioms to talk about someone]

Kiinua mgongo – Malipo ya pongezi/uzeeni [pension]

Kazi ya majungu – Kazi ya kumpatia mtu posho [hand to mouth existence]

Kaza kamba – Usikate tamaa – [never give up!]

Kumwonyesha mgongo – Kujificha – [to hide]

Kuona cha mtema kuni – Kupata mateso [torture]

Maneno ya uwani – Maneno yasiyo na maana/porojo – [hyperbole !]

Mate ya fisi – Kata tamaa kupita kiasi – [give up totally !]

Mbiu ya Mgambo – Tangazo [advertisement]

Mungu amemnyooshea kidole – Mungu amemuadhibu – [God’s punishment]

Mkubwa jalala – Kila lawama hupitia kwa mkubwa – [The eldest is the Dumping ground!]

Mkaa jikoni – Mvivu wa kutembea – [a stay at home person]

Mungu si Athumani – Mungu hapendelei [God is fair]

Ndege mbaya – Bahati mbaya [bad luck]

Paka mafuta kwa mgongo wa chupa – Danganya [telling lies]

Usiwe kabaila – Usichume tokana na jasho la mwingine [Don’t exploit others]

Usiwe kupe – Fanya kazi [be gainfully employed]

Usiwe bwanyenye – Usichume kwa vitega uchumi vyako [don’t be a capitalist!]

Usiwe na mrija – Usinyonye wenzako [don’t be exploitative]

Utawala msonga – Utawala wa wachache [leadership of the few]

Usiwe nyang’au – Usidhulumu kwa kutumia madaraka [Don’t use your position to
exploit others]

usiwe Kikaragosi – Usiwe chui katika ngozi ya kondoo [Don’t be a sheep in a leopard’s
skin]

Umangimeza – Viongozi wanaopenda kuamrisha watu [a Dictatorship]

Kutoa ya mwaka – Kufanya jambo zuri na la pekee [performing a unique act]

Kumpa mtu ukweli wake – Kumwambia mtu wazi [to be transparent]

Pua kukaribiana kushikana na uso – Kukunja uso kwa hasira [to express anger]

Sina hali – Sijiwezi [I am helpless (mostly when talking about love)]

Kupiga uvivu – Kukaa tu bila kazi [abject laziness]

Kupiga kubwa – Kwenda moja kwa moja [vanishing act]

Kumwekea mtu deko – Kulipiza kisasi [pay back]

Mtu mwenye ndimi mbili – Kigeugeu [A turncoat]

Miamba ya mitishamba – Wanga hodari wa kienyeji [ expert wizardry]

Kupiga supu – Tegea [do the least]

Kupiga mali shoka – Gawana [distribute (contraband, bullion, inheritance]

Kula vumbi – Pata taabu [struggle]

Mafungulia ng’ombe – Kati ya saa mbili na saa tatu [between 8.00 and 9.00 o’clock

Kutia kiraka – Fichia siri [confiante]

Kumlainisha mtu – Kumzungumzia mtu maneno matamu mpaka akubali matakwa

yako [convince someone to see eye to eye – to agree to your argument]