Luchazi Language

Wild animal vocabulary: Luchazi to English Animal vocabulary in the Luchazi language refers to the set of words and terms used to describe animals and their classifications. In my inquiries, I observed that the names of certain wild animals—such as giraffes and cheetahs—vary from one Luchazi community to another. This variation exists because some of these animals are not found in areas traditionally inhabited by the Luchazi people, particularly species such as giraffes, chimpanzees, and gorillas.   Giraffes are found only in the southern part of Angola, while in Zambia they are located in the Western Province (Sioma) and parts of the Eastern Province. Chimpanzees and gorillas, on the other hand, are found in the northern parts of Angola, including Cabinda, and are not found in Zambia.   For the purpose of learning and documentation, this work includes animal names as used by different Luchazi communities. General Animal terms and phrases in Luchazi to English Kasi...

Elision - Luchazi language Elision is the process of joining or merging of words that result in shorter version of that word (e.g., Do not = don't, there is = there's). Tata yetu = tatetu (our father). Nana yetu = nanetu (our mother). Iso uenu = isuenu (your father). Noko uenu = nokuenu (your mother). Yala yange = yaliange (my husband). Mpuevo yange = mpueiange (my wife). Yala yove = yaliove (your husband). Mpuevo yove = mpueliove (your wife). Yala yeni = yalieni (her husband). Mpuevo yeni = mpueieni (his wife). Muana uange = muanange (my child). Muana ueni = muaneni (his/her child). Muana uetu = muanetu (our child). Mpanji yove = mpanjove (your cousin). Nanantu = nantu (my uncle). Nokontu uenu = nokontuenu (your uncle). Tele = te (first). Ngantsa ka = antsa ka (wouldn't have). Tala = ta (watch) Ex. Ta nji pange (watch while I work). Mana = ma (wait). Ex. ma nji handeke (wait while I speak). Intsimbu = intsa (didn't). Ex. Intsa ka nja muene iya (whom didn't I see?) ...

Geographical features: Luchazi to English Geographical features encompass both the natural physical characteristics of the Earth and man-made landmarks. Below is a comprehensive guide to land and water features in Luchazi with their English equivalents.  Land features: Luchazi to English Mavu = Earth or land. Likango  – desert. Makango  (plural) – deserts. Cisokola – wasteland. Muncinda = mountain. Mincinda (plural) = mountains. Mincinda ya ha ntalela  – mountain-tops. Lilundu = high ground or place; hill. Malundu (plural) = high grounds or places; hills. Milundu ya ha ntalela = hilltops. Mukinia = hill. Mikinia (plural) = hills. Cimbongo = valley. Nkangala = vale or valley. Cingelengenia = rock face; crag; cliff; escarpment. Vingelengenia (plural) = rock faces; crags; cliffs; escarpments. Ha kati ka vingelengenia = a ravine. Livue = stone or rock. Mavue = stones or rocks. Cana = plain. Zinkundu = Islands. Nkundu (singular) = Island. Zindinda = wi...

Weather conditions vocabulary: Luchazi to English Weather conditions refer to day-to-day state of atmospheric conditions prevailing in a specific area and time as regards heat, wind, rain, cloudiness. On the other hand, climate refer to the average weather conditions in a region over a long period. There are basically five different types of weather conditions namely, Sunny, Rainy, Windy, Stormy and Cloudy. Here are some words and phrases used to describe weather conditions in Luchazi and their meanings in English: Sunny weather: Luchazi to English Melu = sky. Mukambuila ua lilu = firmament of heaven or the arc of the sky. Lihangununo = the sky; firmament. Ceke = light. Ku tua ceke = to give out light. Mintsamintsa = rays; light cast by rays. Litota = star; morning star; day star. Matota = stars; morning stars; day stars. Mutana = sun. Mutana = sunny; sunshine; the heat or light radiated from the sun. Litangua lia hunguluka = daylight; sun day; perfect day. Mutana u na tu =...

Homographs: Luchazi to English Homographs are words or phrases that are spelled the same but have different meaning, origin or pronunciation. Here is a list of homographs in Luchazi and their meanings in English: Cihungu  – head or ear of corn. Cihungu  – martial eagle. Cikisikisi  – giant. Cikisikisi  – the giant masked dancer with a big head. Cikisikisi  – the giant magical creature especially in Luchazi folktales. Cikuma  – shore or bay. Cikuma ca kalunga  – seashore. Cikuma  – greatly; much. Cimueso  – example. Cimueso  – sign. Cisandzi  – swamp. Cisandzi  – musical instrument or radio. Cimbembesi  – shadow. Cimbembesi  – spirit. Cina  – dance. Cina  – burrow or hole. Ciningi – direction Ciningi – understanding Ca casi – it is easy. Ca casi = it is open. Example: lipito lia casi (the door is open) Cali = hen or female bird. Cali = I don’t want it or what for. Cikalu – difficult. Cikalu...

Consonantal glides in Luchazi to English  The consonantal combinations are formed and written by combination of two or three consonants. In Luchazi, letter J is always preceded by letter N and pronounced as in English. These consonantal combinations are: 1. "Mb" as in mbolokota (to chew with a crushing noise). 2. "Mp" as in mpundu (rightly/truly). 3. "Nc" as in muncinda (mountain). 4. "Nd" as in ndonga (river). 5. "Ndz" as in ndzimba (ignorant). 6. "Ng" as in ngendzo (bell). 7. "Nj" as in Njambi (God). 8. "Nk" as in nkole (foe). 9. "Nt" as in ntunda (shoreline/shore). 10. "Nts" as in ntsenge (kitchen). 11. "Ts" as in tsiliela (faith/trust). Here are some words with consonantal combinations: 1. Mbuatama = to sit down heavily or lazily. 2. Mbimbiliya = Bible. 3. Mbuto = seed. 4. Mbimba = locust. 5. Mbimbo = thorn. 6. Mbambo = nail/peg. 7. Mbimbi = wailing. 8. Mbimbiamitue = weepi...

Diphthongs (Gliding vowels) A diphthong is a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves towards another. Diphthongs are frequent in Luchazi, letter I is pronounced like Y as in the word Niali (sister/brother-in-law). Similarly, letter U make a sound like W in English as in the word Naua (again) . There are several diphthongs in Luchazi language, and these are: ai, au, ia or ya˚, ie or ye˚, yi, io or yo˚, iu or yu˚, ua, ue, ui, and uo. Master the diphthongs in Luchazi and you will never go wrong in spelling.   In Luchazi, the following are the diphthongs: 1.  "ai" as in ful ai (aeroplane). 2.  "au" as in n au mu or nomu. 3.  "ia" as in h ia (give). 4.  "ie" as in oh ie la (save/defend). 5.  "yi" as in e yi (these/this). 6.  "io" as in n io tomueno (mother/daughter-in-law). 7.  "iu"  as in as iu a (are easy) 8.  "ua" as in k ua s...

Vowels in Luchazi The letters A, E, I, O and U are called vowels. The other letters in the alphabet are called consonants. Words are formed and written from vowels and consonants. In Luchazi, the vowels have continental or Italian values and the sounds of the vowels are grouped into two: short vowels and long vowels. SHORT VOWELS: The vowels are shorter when unstressed. 1.  "a" as in paya, hanga, asa. 2.  "e" as in hete, seze, henga. 3.  "i" as in citi, linga. 4.  "o" as in soko, loto, onga, kosa, luozi, yoya. 5.  "u" as in kusa, mbunga, futuka. LONG VOWELS: The vowels are prolonged when accented, doubled or when stressed. 1.  "a" as in tata, nana, ku laako. 2.  "e" as in heta, seza, 3.  "i" as in tina, sika. 4.  "o" as in sota, koka, zoza, ngozi. 5.  "u" as in tuta, fula. NB: A vowel is defined as "a speech sound produced by open configuration of the vocal tract, with vibration of ...