Tools vocabulary: Luchazi to English

Tools and Metals vocabulary: Luchazi to English

A tool is a device or implement, typically hand-held, used to carry out a particular function. These include construction, agricultural, metalworking, and sharpening tools. Below is a categorized list of Luchazi terms and their English meanings:

General tools: Luchazi to English

1. Cinoma – Tool or iron tool.
2. Cikundo – Handle of a spear or knife.
3. Fosholo – Shovel (Loanword from Shona foshoro and Zulu ifosholo).
4. Foshola / Shofola – To shovel; to take up and throw with a shovel.
5. Hala – Rake (Derived from hala, meaning to scratch an itch).
6. Kompasu – Compass (loanword).
7. Likandu (pl. Makandu) – Mattock.
8. Likuanga – File.
9. Litemo (pl. Matemo) – Hoe or coulter.
10. Muhini – Handle of an axe or hoe.
11. Mukole ua ku setekesa – Measuring rope or tape.
12. Njolo – Hook.
13. Njimbu (pl. Zinjimbu) – Axe.
14. Njimbu ya mutaka – Hatchet; medium-sized axe; battle axe.
15. Pa (pl. Zipa) – Shovel.

Common tools in Luchazi language 

Knives and Sharpening terms: Luchazi to English

1. Cekese – Sickle.
2. Cikele – Scissors.
3. Cikele ca ku sondouesa (pl. Vikele via...) – Pruning shear.
4. Hotola / Ku hotola – To sharpen, hone, or whet.
5. Kavemba – Razor blade.
6. Kazolo (pl. Tuzolo) – Wick tong, trimmer, or scissors.
7. Kuengo – A large knife used in woodwork.
8. Litale – Sharp knife made out of flint.
9. Mbeli – Surgical razor for circumcision or shaving.
10. Mbeli ya nteuli – Barber's razor.
11. Mpoko – Knife.
12. Mpoko ya litale (pl. Zimpoko zia matale) – Flint knife.
13. Mpoko ya ku teuisa – Shaving knife.
14. Mpoko ya sondouesa (pl. Zimpoko zia...) – Pruning knife.
15. Mulanja – A large single-edged blade used for chopping (similar to a bolo knife).
16. Tsimua / Ku tsimua – Blunt; not sharp.
17. Tumuna / Ku tumuna – To polish.
18. Vambuka / Ku vambuka – Sharp; razor sharp.

Common knives in Luchazi language

Woodworking tools and terms: Luchazi to English

1. Cisano – Mallet.
2. Kalulo – A large knife used in woodwork.
3. Mesele – Craftsman or carpenter.
4. Palana (pl. Zipalana) – Jack plane (Loanword).
5. Selalo (pl. Ziselalo) – Saw or handsaw.
6. Songa / Ku songa – To carve; to shape wood.
7. Timba – To chop or strike with an axe.

Common woodworking tools in Luchazi

Metalworking tools and craftsmanship: Luchazi to English

1. Cikungo ca zintsempe (pl. Vikungo via...) – Barbed metal.
2. Citasu (pl. Vitasu) – Metal plate.
3. Citasu ca ku totoka (pl. Vitasu via...) – Thin metal plate.
4. Coto ca zindopi – Brickkiln.
5. Tata – beat metal into a flat sheet.
6. Ku tata – To beat metal into a flat sheet.
7. Kufula – To forge.
8. Lumana – Blacksmith’s tongs.
9. Lutengo – Smelter or smelting furnace.
10. Muvandze – Traditional bellows.
11. Muveto – Hammer.
12. Ndenga (pl. Zindenga) – Dross; impurity or scum on molten metal.
13. Ngangula – Blacksmith or metal worker.
14. Ngangula ya zintsindzo – Instructor of artificers; forger of implements.
15. Ntalavue – Rust; scum; dross.
16. Ntsambo (pl. Zintsambo) – Wire.
17. Ntsambo ya vunengu – Copper wire.
18. Ntsambo ya vutale – Iron wire.
19. Ntsongi – Carver, sculptor, or potter.
20. Nguyuyu – Rust.
21. Viniania – Waste metal; dross.
22. Vungangula – Craftsmanship; artisanship.
23. Ziki – Anvil.
24. Zintsambo zia zintsempe – Barbed wires.

Common forging tools in Luchazi 

Metals and Minerals: Luchazi to English

Metal is a hard substance such as iron, steel, copper, or lead; or a mixture of such elements, such as steel, that is generally hard and strong, and through which electricity and heat can travel.

1. Cikungo – Metal.
2. Hinda – To mine or dig.
3. Mukoti – Mine.
4. Mukoti ua vunengu – Copper mine.
5. Mukoti ua palata – Silver mine.
6. Mpemba – Limestone.
7. Nkengelezi – Bronze or brass.
8. Nkungu – Earthly pigment (ochre).
9. Olu – Gold.
10. Palata – Silver.
11. Sitaniu – Tin.
12. Sumbu – Lead.
13. Vunengu – Copper.
14. Vutale – Iron or flint.

Precious stones (Gems): Luchazi to English

Many names of precious stones are loanwords (borrowed words) from other languages. Here is a list e common precious stones names in Luchazi and their equivalent in English:

1. Esemelanda – Emerald.
2. Kalembunkulu – Carbuncle.
3. Livue lia seho (pl. Mavue a...) – Precious stone.
4. Mbelilu – Beryl.
5. Ndiamante – Diamond.
6. Onikisi – Onyx.
7. Safila – Sapphire.
8. Salendiu – Sardius.
9. Topasiu – Topaz.
10. Tulekeza / Visembi – Gems; beryl.
11. Yasepe – Jasper.

Luchazi proverb: Ca teta Njimbu na litemo ce ku soka. (That which the ax and the hoe cut is apt to grow).

Vulanguluisi: Omo yala (njimbu) na mpuevo yeni (litemo) va litavasiana ku panga na mutima umo, zintsimbu zia zingi vize vi va panga vi tantuluka kaha vi tuhuka mua cili.

Ku Hetesa: Omo vantu vavali va litavasiana mu ku panga va ka pasuka ku luholo.