Vocabulary for types of foods in Luchazi

Vocabulary for types of foods

In the sections below you will learn lots of words about the types of foods in Luchazi language.

General terms related to food

1. Lia = eat.
2. Liua = eaten; devoured.
3. Ku liua = eaten away.
4. Via-ku-lia = food.
5. Ku tonguenia = eat slowly and sparely.
6. Sungila = beg food; eat meals from other people's homes.
7. Likumbu = mound of civundu.
8. Savula = grab a gob or lump of civundu.
9. Nkama = fist-size lump.
10. Zamuona
11. Vitika = dough.
12. Vuuiui = crumbs.
13. Vihavuhavu = crumbs; morsels.
14. Visaniu-visaniu = pieces.
15. Tontuese = make cool.
16. Tanta = dunk.
17. Mbuitika = dip.
18. Mpindi ya ntsitu = piece of meat.
19. Musuni = steak; a thick piece of high-quality meat.
20. Suma = bite.
21. Kunjuta = nibble.
22. Takinia = chew.
23. Mbolokota
24. Polokota
25. Mina = swallow.
26. Nua or kunua = drink or to drink.
27. Huvila = gulp or suck up.
28. Liasa or ku liasa = lick or to lick.
29. Susunia = suck up dripping soup or gravy from a piece of meat.
30. Ku susunia = to suck up the dripping soup from a piece of meat.
31. Kukunia = to hold a hard foodstuff in the mouth and suck it or allow it to dissolve.
32. Zekula = spit.
33. Saniona = grate or tear to pieces.
34. Vusamu = without salt.
35. Ku samuka = to be tasteless.
36. Museza = leftovers of food, remnant of civundu from yesterday's lunch or supper.
37. Vunkatu = plain civundu.
38. Ku lisuka
39. Nkatu = to eat the thick meal porridge without gravy or soup or meat stew.
40. Musati = sugarcane.
41. Cisati = stalk.
42. Ku-lembuluka = sweetness.
43. Tova = seasoned; spiced; salted; savoured; flavoured; 
44. Vutovale = attractive to the sense of taste; savour; savoury.
45. Ku-tovala = to be tasty.
46. Ku-samuka = to be tasteless.
47. Ku-tsita = putrid.
48. Vueko = aroma.
49. Lizimba = odour; scent.
50. Nika or ku nika = smell or to be smelly.
51. Katende = stink or stench.
52. Cuku = steam; vapourized scent.
53. Kutsa cizava = to feel hungry.
54. Ku ivua ndzala = to be hungry.
55. Kutsa mpuila = to feel thirst.
56. Likumbu = mound of civundu.
57. Lizumbu = feast; banquet given especially by in-laws.
58. Ku zumbula
59. Lisa = feed.
60. Makela = test food before serving.
61. Civotsi = soft; tender.
62. Musozi = soup.
63. Sangununa = liquefy by heat, melt
64. Mpindi = piece; portion. Example: mpindi ya ntsitu = piece of meat.
65. Nkama = a fist-size lump. Example: nkama ya civundu = a lump of meal porridge.
66. Civalavala = slice; piece. Example: civalavala ca mbolo = slice/piece of bread.
67. Ngaso = victual.

Luchazi proverb: "Kankovongo ku ku lima; ku ku-lia, ngongo sinuna" (He is slow and lazy in plowing, but when it comes to eating he surpasses the hard worker).

Vulanguluisi: Vantu vamosi va lihola malambi omo kuli vipanga vunoni omo via-ku-lia vi nahi va lia via vingi mu ku pulakana vaze va na fuitangana.

Ku Hetesa: Vilenda vatsa ha kulia.

The picture below shows the different types of foods in Luchazi Language.

Basic foods in Luchazi language

Vegetables and tubers vocabulary

A vegetable refers to part of a plant that can be cooked and eaten with a main course.

1. Mutete = roselle.
2. Muloho = vegetables.
3. Ntsompo = cassava leaves; vegetables.
4. Likunde = bean or an edible seed, often kidney-shaped, that grows in a seedpod.
5. Makunde (plural) = beans, lentils.
6. Vipoke = pea beans.
7. Vuihua = mushrooms. The common mushrooms (in Luchazi language) include vumbalambindzi, tete, kambandze, vulialuku, vuvanda mbambi, vusua, just to name a few.
8. Zindzilo = eggplants.
9. Mutete = roselle.
10. Polu or Vipolu = leek or leeks.
11. Sapola or Visapola = onion or onions.
12. Tulumingo = garlic.
13. Muandza = cassava.
14. Musambe = sweet potatoes.
15. Tuvanja = sweet potatoes.
16. Vukola vua ntamba = yams.
17. Vukola vua ntsoni = yams.

Fruits and melons vocabulary

Fruits can be eaten raw after becoming ripe.

1. Mihako = fruits.
2. Pepinusi = cucumber.
3. Vipepinusi = cucumber or cucumbers.
4. Litanda or Melau = melon.
5. Matanda or Vimelau = melons.
6. Litanda lia kambiambia = Cucumis melo or winter melon.
7. Matanda a kambiambia (plural) = Cucumis melos or winter melons.
8. Vitende = horned melons.
9. Masela = apples.
10. Ndungu = chili pepper.
11. Zindungu = chili peppers. 
12. Kahombo = scotch bonnet chili pepper. and 
13. Kanike uasina = African bird eye chili pepper.
14. Cihia = the outer skin of the fruit.
15. Cipapa = the outer skin of the fruit.

Basic fruits in Luchazi language

Wild fruits include the following:

1. Makolo,
2. Malolo,
3. Mantikala, 
4. Makolongondzo, 
5. Zimbungo,
6. Zinjindu, 
7. Zintsakala, 
8. Zintsala,
9. Zindzongolo, 
10. Zindzele, 
11. Mahuvi,
12. Zintsole, 
13. Zintsombo, 
14. Zintsivi,
15. Zimpungo,  
16. Zimpundia,

Grains, beans and nuts vocabulary

Grains are seeds from grasses called cereals which are cooked and eaten whole.

1. Mundele = maize.
2. Lipungu or pungu = multi-coloured heirloom corn.
3. Valuku = finger millet.
4. Masangu = bulrush millet.
5. Masa = sorghum.
6. Tiliku = wheat.
7. Sevanda = barley.
8. Likunde = bean or an edible seed, often kidney-shaped, that grows in a seedpod.
9. Makunde (plural) = beans, lentils.
10. Vielu via ndongo = groundnuts.
11. Vielu via kaseke = vigna substerranea; also known as Bambara ground-beans.

Grains like maize, millet, sorghum and wheat are pounded into a powder called flour which is then used to make foods like:

1. Civundu = a very thick meal porridge.
2. Civundu ca muandza = a very thick meal porridge made from cassava flour.
3. Civundu ca masangu = a very thick meal porridge made from millet flour.
4. Civundu ca kutongela = a thickened meal porridge made from a mixture of maize flour and cassava flour.
5. Civundu ca museza = leftover meal porridge.
6. Mbolo = bread.

Other important words include:

1. Tua = pound.
2. Kutua = to pound.
3. Lola = grind.
4. Ku lola = to grind or to crush something into tiny pieces.
5. Vunga = flour or a powder made by grinding grains.
6. Vunga vua muandza = cassava flour.
7. Vunga vua masangu = bulrush millet flour.
8. Vunga vua masa = sorghum flour.

Luchazi proverb: "Cihembe ca kokama; kanike a ci tulikila museza." (The field of cassava is dried up and the child is hoarding the leftovers of food).

Vulanguluisi: Ha ntsimbu ya cilela omo lihia lia muandza li sangumuka kuma via-ku-lia vi sangumuka ku keha. Mukemo cipue kanike a hasa ku kovela mu cilika ca vunkondi.

Ku Hetesa: Himpuka mukua vunkondi ha ntsimbu ya ku tonguenia.

Meat vocabulary

Meat refers to the animal or bird flesh eaten as food. The Luchazi raise pigs, goats, sheep and cattle for their meat. Here are common words used in Luchazi when it comes to meat and their meanings in English:

1. Papula = butcher.
2. Ku papula = to butcher.
3. Ku va = to skin a slaughtered animal.
4. Vavula = singe.
5. Ku vavula = to singe.
6. ku-umeka = to sun dry.
7. Tungika = smoke.
8. Ku tungika = the process of smoking.
9. Suta = feathers removal process.
10. Ku suta = feathers removal, typically through a process of scalding and plucking.
11. Teta = cut.
12. Vitanda via ntsitu = shambles; butcheries; slaughterhouses.
    

Types of meat in Luchazi language

1. Ntsitu = meat; animal or bird flesh eaten as food.
2. Ntsitu ya ku uma = dry meat.
3. Ntsitu ya ku tungika = smoked meat.
4. Ntsitu ya ngombe = beef or meat from a cow, bull and ox.
5. Ntsitu ya mpembe = goat meat.
6. Ntsitu ya mpanga = mutton.
7. Ntsitu ya ngulu = pork.
8. Ntsitu ya katali = dog meat.
9. Ntsitu ya mu musenge = game meat or bush meat.
10. Ntsitu ya mbambi = duiker meat
11. Ntsitu ya mpakasa = buffalo meat.
12. Ntsitu ya ngolo = zebra meat.
13. Ntsitu ya ntiengu = roan antelope meat.
14. Ntsitu ya combo = bush pig meat
15. Ntsitu ya cihengi = warthog meat.
16. Ntsitu ya ciningi = porcupine meat.
17. Ntsitu ya kalumba = rabbit meat.
18. Cipunga = cannon bone.
19. Cipunga ca ngulu = trotter or pig's foot.
20. Via muzimo = tripe meat. Offals; organs from an animal or bird eaten as food.
21. Vufuati = refuse.
22. Ntsitu ya linoka = snake meat.

Meat types in Lucazi language

Poultry vocabulary

Poultry refers to birds kept for meat and eggs. The Luchazi also hunt wild birds for food. Birds are boiled or roasted, or they are cut into pieces before being cooked. Birds kept as poultry by the Luchazi people include free-range chickens, ducks, geese, and guinea fowls.

Types of poultry food in Lucazi language

1. Ntsitu ya niamalanda = ostrich meat or Ntsitu ya nkumbua = ostrich meat.
2. Ntsitu ya kasumbi = chicken meat.
3. Ntsitu ya kasumbi ya ku tungika = smoked chicken meat.
4. Kasumbi ua ku tungika = smoked chicken.
5. Ntsitu ya kanga = guinea fowl meat.
6. Ntsitu ya lipato = duck meat.
7. Ntsitu ya ntsintsi = geese meat.
8. Ntsitu ya ntento = quail meat.
9. Ntsitu ya livemba = pigeon meat.
10. Liyaki = egg.
11. Mayaki (plural) = eggs.

Types of eggs in Lucazi language

1. Ntsinda = egg yolk.
2. Luivaluiva = white of the egg.
3. Mayaki a nkumbua or niamalanda = ostrich eggs.
4. Mayaki a ntsintsi = goose eggs.
5. Mayaki a lipato = duck eggs.
6. Mayaki a kasumbi = chicken eggs.
7. Mayaki a ntento = quail eggs.
8. Ku-umba = lay eggs.
9. Vutamena = to sit on eggs so as to hatch them.
10. Ku tota = to hatch.
11. Camba = chicken run/pan.
12. Lisua = nest.
13. Lifundunguino = nest.

Fish vocabulary

The most widely eaten fresh-water fish include mapuli, mingumba. Most of these are caught in rivers and lakes using fishing rods, fishing baskets, nets or spears. Most fish are cooked either by frying, roasting or boiling. The fish can be cooked whole or cut into small pieces and used to make stew or soup. But however, you eat your fish, watch out for bones!

1. Makenge = fins.
2. Cilele = tail fin.
3. Mavanda = scales.
4. Mazaza = gills.

Types of fish food in Luchazi language

1. Intsi = fish; an animal that lives and swims in water and breathes through gills.
2. Intsi ua ku-uma = dried fish.
3. Vantsi (plural) = fish.
4. Vantsi va ku-uma (plural) = dried fish.
5. Intsi ua ku kanga = fried fish.
6. Intsi ua ku-uma ua kanga = fried dry fish.
7. Vantsi va ku kanga (plural) = fried fish.
8. Vantsi va ku-uma va ku kanga = fried dry fish.
9. Intsi ua ku-oca = roasted or grilled fish.
10. Vantsi va ku-oca (plural) = roasted or grilled fish.
11. Intsi ua ku tungika = smoked fish.
12. Vantsi va ku tungika (plural) = smoked fish.
13. Intsi ua ku teleka = boiled fish.
14. Vantsi va ku teleka (plural) = boiled fish.

Dairy food vocabulary

Dairy food include milk, and all the food made from milk.

1. Manteka = butter/coagulated milk.
2. Keju = cheese.
3. Mavele or mavisi = milk.

Cooking vocabulary

1. Ciko = cooking stick.
2. Ku hika = stir-cook or to cook a meal over a heat while stirring especially when stir-cooking the thick meal porridge.
3. Ku hika civundu = to cook thick meal porridge.
4. Ku teleka = to cook or to prepare food for eating.
5. Ku teleka vifo = to cook relish.
6. Ku kanga = to fry or to cook food in hot oil or fat.
7. Ku kanga mayaki = to fry eggs.
8. Telula = remove a pot from the cooking fire or stove.
9. Oca = roast.
10. Situla = take out of fire.
11. Tungika = smoke.
12. Tika = knead
13. Ku tika = to knead
14. Ciseya cove ca ku tikila = your bowl for kneading.
15. Pala = peel.
16. Ku pala = to peel.
17. Tuvula = strip off.
18. Uvulula = peel off.

Cooking ingredients

1. Muongua = salt.
2. Tuzi tua cindele = sugar.
3. Vuci = honey.
4. Mukele = soda.
5. Cimbaluila = yeast.
6. Mpapi = hydromel.
7. Nkamba = roots for brewing vimbuku beer.
8. Mizi ya muvulia = roots used in fermentation of honey beer.
9. Milava = roots for brewing non-alcoholic beverage made from meal flour.
10. Mavele = milk.
11. Liyaki = egg.
12. Mayaki (plural) = eggs.
13. Vunga = flour
14. Mazi = oil; fat.
15. Mazi a ku telekesa = cooking oil.
16. Mazi a ngulu = lard
17. Zindungu = chili pepper.
18. Zindungu zia kahombo = scotch bonnet chili pepper
19. Ndumbo = spices.
20. Ku lumba = to give (especially food) more flavour by adding seasoning or savoury ingredients e.g. herbs, spices etc.

Types of honey and related terms

1. Vuci vua muenga = pure honey.
2. Cisila = honeycomb.
3. Vuci vua mpuka = honey made by bees.
4. Vuci vua mase
5. Vuci vua mala
6. Vuci vua malianda
7. Vuci vua matambi = honey made by ground bees. This is nectar stored in ground by the ground bees.
8. Vuci vua tu-mbulumbulu = honey made by a tiny black bee.

Luchazi eating etiquette

Luchazi eating etiquette are a set of behavioural guidelines that are considered socially acceptable when eating a meal with other people. The guidelines can vary from one community to another. Here is a list of common guidelines:

1. In Luchazi traditional society, men and women do not eat their meals together. Men and boys eat their meals communally in the Ndzango which is a thatched structure situated in the centre of the village. Women and girls eat their meals in their respective kitchens.
2. The Luchazi people have strict timings for eating main meals; traditionally supper is served between 17 and 18 hours. After sunset, no meals are consumed in the ndzango. In the past, the Luchazi believed that eating main meals after sunset attracted evil spirits and witches to eat with them.  evening meals must be consumed before sunset.
3. Luchazi people use their hands for eating. Always wash your hands before eating.
4. Follow the order of washing hands which starts with an older person present and last the youngest.
5. Follow the sequence of setting or serving food which is a basin containing water, plates containing relish and lastly the plate containing civundu.
6. Wait for the older person present to start the ball rolling. Only the older person is allowed to use a side plate, the rest of the team dunks from the same plates for relish.
7. Use the right hand to eat and avoid licking your fingers. Any food that falls to the ground while eating is said to be for the ancestors.
8. Receive food items with both hands and always pass using the right hand.
9. Avoid talking with food inside your mouth and chew with your mouth closed.
10. Mealtimes are social occasions. Engage and participate meaningfully in the conversation. Avoid emotional topics.
11. Do not forget to feed the dogs. The dog is valued in a number of ways in Luchazi culture.
12. Do not leave the eating place when finished. Wait for others and follow the same order of washing hands after eating.