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Xhosa Heritage - Literature
You are here: Nalane - Xhosa Heritage - Literature - Idioms| Idiom | Meaning |
| Ukuba yinyoka | To be untrustworthy |
| Ukuba lilulwane | H/Se cannot be trustred; takes all sides and is deceitful |
| Ukuba yinkuku | To go to bed early |
| Ukuba yingwenya | Good, powerful, famous person, of many virtues |
| Ukuba liphela | To be very greedy |
| Ukuba yincukuthu | To live off other people |
| Ukuba yingonyama | To be brave and strong |
| Ukuba sisikhova | To be lonely or to like to go out at night(Commonly used for people doing night duties) |
| Ukuba lilitye | To be a very hard nut to crack or to be very slow at understanding |
| Ukuba yigusha | To be humble |
| Ukuba luhlaza/krwada | To be rude |
| Ukuba bomvu | To be illeterate |
| Ukuba lukhuni | To be dull (intellectually) |
| Ukuba nzima | To be pregnant |
| Ukulumka okwenyoko | To be as wise as a serpant |
| Ukusinda okwengxowa yetyuwa | To be as heavy as a bag of salt |
| Ukuba nenzondo okwemfene | To bear grudge like a baboon |
| Ukuba nentaka | To be scared |
| Ukuba nesandla | To be artistic/very good with hand work |
| Ukungabi nasifuba | To be unable to keep a secret |
| Ukuba nomlomo | To be talkative |
| Ukuba neminwe emide | To be a thief |
| Ukungabi nantloko | To be inconsiderate |
| Ukubetha emlonyeni | To take the words out of somebody's mouth while talking or to interrupt |
| Ukukhala ngaphantsi | To fail/lose |
| Ukucela izandla | To ask to be given a hand/help |
| Ukucela amehlo | To show off |
| Ukucela iindlebe | To ask for attention |
| Ukuxhentsa uzombelela | To have no assistance from anyone |
| Ukukhotha uxathula | To praise and criticise in the same breath |
| Ukukhula uxhuma | To have a hard time |
| Ukukhatywa yinkawu | To be hungry |
| Ukuhlekwa naziintaka | To be a laughing stock |
| Umthi kanomyayi | To be lucky(in escaping danger) |
| Urhatya lwemivundla | Early evening |
| Ukutya kweendlebe | Good news or music |
| Inkani yesele | Too stubborn |
| Inyoka nesele | Enemies |
| Umtya nethunga | Very close friends |
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