Farm vocabulary: Luchazi to English

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Farm vocabulary: Luchazi to English

This section contains Luchazi words and phrases related to farming, agriculture, land cultivation, crops, and livestock management.

General farming terms

  1. Vundimi – Farming; agriculture 
  2. Ndimi – Farmer
  3. Vandimi – Farmers
  4. Mukua ku lima – Plougher; plowman; cultivator
  5. Vakua ku lima – Ploughers; cultivators
  6. Lima – Cultivate; till; plough
  7. Ku lima – To cultivate
  8. Limunuina = plough between the already ploughed.
  9. Tipa – till; plough.
  10. Ku tipa – To till; to plough
  11. Vulime – Tillage; cultivated land; fallow farmland
  12. Vingila = watch over (guarding grain crops against birds and monkeys)
  13. Vuvingililo = vigilance; protective observation.

Land, Fields and Boundaries

  1. Lihia – Farm; field; cultivated land
  2. Muhaka – Garden; vegetable plot
  3. Cinimbu ca livu – Plot of land
  4. Cipalo – Boundary marker; land marker
  5. Ku ntsongo ya lihia – At the end of the field
  6. Zimbango zia lihia – Corners of the field
  7. Livu – Soil
  8. Livu lia vuilo – Fertile soil; good soil
  9. Livu lia ku uma – Dry soil
  10. Livu lia ku zula – Wet soil
  11. Livu lia ku ilila – Fallow ground
  12. Lihia lia ku ilila – Fallow farmland
  13. Cisokola – Wasteland

Soil Preparation and Field Management

  1. Masinde – Soil clods; clay lumps
  2. Ku pazangana masinde – To break up soil clods; harrow
  3. Ku lambesa livu – To break up and level soil
  4. Ku saseya – To cut down small trees and bushes during field preparation
  5. Ku vavula – To carry out early burning around fields to create firebreaks
  6. Ku yauila – To weed
  7. Sevula – To completely remove grass from the ground
  8. Ku sendeka – To clear or prepare land (definition may need confirmation)

Planting and Propagation

  1. Kuna – plant
  2. Kununuina – To plant seed among already planted crops
  3. Tombeka – To plant stems or cuttings
  4. Kuva – sow
  5. Mbuto – Seed
  6. Mbuto ya ndundu-katete – First seed; first produce
  7. Zintui – Pumpkin, gourd, or squash seeds
  8. Mitombo – Suckers; shoots; offshoots
  9. Cisoka – Plant
  10. Visoka – Plants; vegetation
  11. Tukumuna – To irrigate
  12. Tukumuina – Irrigation
  13. Sampuila – To sprinkle
  14. Vuilo – Manure; compost; organic fertiliser

Plant Growth and Development

  1. Soko – Grow; germinate
  2. Ku soko – To grow; to germinate
  3. Sokele – Grew
  4. Sokesele – Cause to grow
  5. Ca lisokela – Self-growing plant; volunteer plant
  6. Ca lisokela mutoto ku mbuto – Plant growing naturally without being sown
  7. Kolo – Grow; develop
  8. Ku kolo – To grow
  9. Kolakana – Overgrown
  10. Sonda = prune; cut off.
  11. Sondola = prune.
  12. Tema – Blossom; flower
  13. Ku tema – To blossom
  14. Tuikilila – Sprout
  15. Ku tuikilila – To sprout
  16. Ku linda – To twine or wind around a stem
  17. Ku zuza – To wither
  18. Ku uminina – To dry up completely
  19. Ku ima mbuto – To produce grain
  20. Ku ima mihako – To bear fruit
  21. Luintui = vine; the slender stem of a trailing or climbing plant.
  22. Litindi = the small conical or ovoid-shaped seed pod especially of the Roselle plant, which is covered with bright red, fleshy, and petal-like calyces.
  23. Matindi (plural) = the seed pods especially of the Roselle plant.

Harvesting and Post-Harvest Activities

  1. Tia / Kutia – Harvest; harvesting
  2. Kela – Harvest grain crops; to harvest grain crops such as wheat, rice using the harvesting knife.
  3. Ku kela makania – Harvest tobacco
  4. Hela – Pick; pluck
  5. Ku hela makania – Pick tobacco leaves
  6. Potola – Pick or gather fruit
  7. vakua ku potola vusuka = fruit pickers or gatherers
  8. Tomona – Pick fruit, flowers, or leaves
  9. Tombola = pull up by the roots.
  10. Tukula = uproot or yank.
  11. Tenda – Shell pods; remove seeds from pods
  12. Ku tenda vielu – Shell groundnuts
  13. Tongona – Strip leaves
  14. Vunda – Chop stalks after grain harvest
  15. Zungula – Thresh
  16. Ndzungula – Threshing
  17. Pekula – Winnow; separate grain from chaff
  18. Muzungu = chaff; debris.
  19. Muhungu = debris; chaff.
  20. Kunga – Gather
  21. Halulula – Glean
  22. Hungulula – Gathering harvested crops
  23. Ungulula – Store harvested crops; stockpile
  24. Tuta – Haul; transport
  25. Longela – Fill up

Harvested Produce and Storage

  1. Vusuka – Produce; crops; fruits
  2. Vusuka vua ndundu-katete – First fruits
  3. Cisupo – Surplus; excess
  4. Visupo – Surpluses
  5. Cisua – Sheaf
  6. Visua – Sheaves
  7. Citutila – Bundle
  8. Lianda – Bundle
  9. Lianda lia valuku – Bundle of finger millet

Weeds, Grass and Pasture

  1. Saku – Noxious weeds
  2. Vikelekele – Weeds
  3. Muila – Grass
  4. Muila ua ku kamba – Mown grass
  5. Vulio – Forage
  6. Vulilo – Pasture
  7. Vulilo vua ku tontola – Green pasture
  8. Tundzata – Brambles
  9. Mungu – Nettles
  10. Visuasua – Straw; stubble
  11. Visoni – Straw; stubble

Farm Structures and Features

  1. Cina – Burrow
  2. Cipuku – Pit
  3. Muhanga – Garden bed
  4. Mihanga – Garden beds
  5. Miondongole – Ridges
  6. Miondongole ya lihia – Field ridges
  7. Mitumbo / Matumbo – Soil mounds
  8. Vusito – Hedge

Types of crops in Luchazi to English

  1. Mundele = maize.
  2. Lipungu or pungu = multi-coloured heirloom African corn; maize.
  3. Valuku = finger millet.
  4. Masangu = bulrush millet.
  5. Masa = sorghum.
  6. Tiliku = wheat.
  7. Nijela = spelt grain; fitches grain.
  8. Vielu via ntsoke = groundnuts.
  9. Vielu via ndongo (loanword) = groundnuts.
  10. Vielu via kaseke = vigna substerranea; also known as Bambara ground-beans.
  11. Makunde = beans.
  12. Vipoke = cowpeas.
  13. Zimono = castor oil seeds.
  14. Muandza = cassava.
  15. Musambe = sweet potatoes
  16. Tuvanja = sweet potatoes.
  17. Mutete = roselle.
  18. Zindzilo = African green eggplants.
  19. Vimatia = tomatoes.
  20. Sapola = onions.
  21. Tulumingo = garlic.
  22. Zindungu = chili peppers.
  23. Kahombo = scotch bonnet chili pepper.
  24. Kanike uasina = African bird eye chili pepper.
  25. Lihapua = watermelon.
  26. Mahapua (plural) = watermelons.
  27. Litanda or Melau = melon.
  28. Matanda or Vimelau = melons.
  29. Litanda lia kambiambia = Cucumis melo or winter melon.
  30. Matanda a kambiambia (plural) = Cucumis melos or winter melons.
  31. Litiva = edible gourd or squash.
  32. Mativa (plural) = edible gourds.
  33. Cimputu = the bushy pumpkin leaves.
  34. Limputu = pumpkin.
  35. Mamputu (plural) = pumpkins.
  36. Lumono = gourd.
  37. Ntsuua = calabash.
  38. Cimbakasizi (loanword from Portuguese "abacaxi" = pineapple.
  39. Cinanazi = pineapple.
  40. Likonde (loanword mainly used in Zambia) = pineapple.
  41. Makonde (plural) = pineapple.
  42. Likonde = banana.
  43. Makonde (plural) = bananas.
  44. Zimasa = apples.
  45. Cimamau (loanword from Portuguese "mamão" = papaya (pawpaw).
  46. Mbakate (loanword from Portuguese "abacate" = avocado.
  47. Mbuma = mango.
  48. Zimbuma (plural) = mango.
  49. Makania = tobacco.
  50. Liamba = marijuana; cannabis.

Luchazi proverb: Yove ua koka luntui; ngecize na mativa a ci ka suameka (You have pulled up the vine so the mativa (type of squash) will be burned).

Vulanguluisi: Nga u koka cipue u tukula luntui; vusuka vuze vua kala ha luntui vu koma na ku nonga. Nga u nongesa vuputukilo u ka nongesa naua Vumanusuilo.

Ku Hetesa: Mu ntsimbu kanda u panga vimosi, yongola mua cili na ku singanieka viose vize vi hasa ku soloka ku vize vi u ka panga.

Parts of a maize plant in Luchazi to English

  1. Cisongo = blade of crop; leaf.
  2. Cihungu = head or ear of corn.
  3. Vikasakasa = ears of the corn.
  4. Mbuto zia mahumpu = grains.
  5. Mukandi = kernel.
  6. Mikandi (plural) = kernels.
  7. Nkuekue = husk; the green leafy layer that we peel back.
  8. Zinkuekue (plural) = husks.
  9. Cikundi = cob; corncob; the central cylindrical woody part of the maize ear to which the grains are attached.
  10. Vikundi (plural) = cobs; corncobs.
  11. Ntsala = tassel.
  12. Ntsoke = grass needle; awn; a long, slender, sharp-pointed part from lemma of the spikelet; also called threads.
  13. Zintsoke (plural)
Parts of a maize plant in Luchazi language

Mako (Mark) 4: 28, "Mavu avene ema mihako; ha katete cisongo, kaha cihungu, kaha mbuto zia muhumpu".

Farm storage structures and accessories in Luchazi to English

  1. Cisete = barn; granary.
  2. Visete (plural) = barns; granaries.
  3. Cikoloyi = a permanent storage structure for crops after harvest.
  4. Vikoloyi (plural) = permanent storage structures for crops after harvest.
  5. Cipundo = temporary storage structure at the farming field.
  6. Vipundo (plural) = temporary storage structure at the farming field.
  7. Cisasa = temporary shelter or booth.
  8. Cisasa ca mukua ku vingila = a shelter or booth for a person guarding the field.
  9. Cizunguilo = threshing floor or place.
  10. Njeke = sack.
  11. Njeke ya tuntuntu = a sack with holes.

Common farm animals in Luchazi to English

  1. Vimuna = livestock; domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting.
  2. Ngombe = cattle; ox.
  3. Citole = cow, heifer or a mature, female bovine are raised for milk, meat (beef) and hides (leather).
  4. Kavalu = horse.
  5. Cimulu = donkey.
  6. Mpembe = goat.
  7. Vampembe (plural) = goats.
  8. Muana mpembe = kid.
  9. Vana mpembe (plural) = kids.
  10. Mpanga = sheep.
  11. Vampanga (plural) = sheep.
  12. Muana mpanga = lamb.
  13. Vana mpanga (plural) = lambs.
  14. Ngulu = pig.
  15. Vangulu (plural) = pigs.
  16. Kalumba = rabbit.
  17. Tulumba (plural) = rabbits.
  18. Nkuzi = bull or a mature, male bovine that are raised for meat (beef) and hides (leather).
  19. Vankuzi (plural) = bulls.
  20. Nuei = bullock; male bovine, specifically one that has been castrated; bull.
  21. Vanuei (plural) = bullocks; male bovines, specifically those that have been castrated; bulls.
  22. Vankuzi vangombe = mature, male bovine.
  23. Nkomba = male animal.
  24. Nkomba ua ku lehuka = castrated male animal.
  25. Luhavo = female animal.
  26. Cizamba = ram or a male sheep.
Common farm animals in Luchazi

Words related to animals in Luchazi to English

  1. Cituto = paw.
  2. Vituto = paws.
  3. Zintsende = hooves.
  4. Vipondo = hoofs.
  5. Mucila = tail.
  6. Mianga = wag; swing the tail.
  7. Zimbinga = horns.
  8. Mukambo = yoke.
  9. Muhompo = snout.
  10. Cilambu = animal skin.
  11. Vutanga = flock.
  12. Matanga (plural) = flocks.
  13. Tanga = kraal; enclosure for domestic animals.
  14. Limba = kraal.
  15. Vuvutameno = place for laying down; couching place.
  16. Kaniungi = herdsman, herder or shepherd.
  17. Nkomba = male animal.
  18. Luhavo = female animal.
  19. Ku kamuna = to milk the cow.
  20. Tusitu va ku nina = fattened animals; fatlings.
  21. Citi ca ku ndivuisa = goad.
  22. Viti via ku ndivuisa (plural) = goads.

Luchazi proverb: Ngombe ua vuana ka ve ku mu tala ku zimbinga (Do not look at the horns of a cow that was given as a gift).

Vulanguluisi: Vangombe vamo va kala na zimbinga zia ku henga vunoni nga ngombe ua vuana ke ve ku tala nga zimbinga zia henga ni cahi.

Ku Hetesa: Santsela ku vuana vuose kati u linienge muomu cize ci u na vezika va na ku hana cali. Gratitude is important in life.

Common farm birds in Luchazi to English

  1. Kasumbi = chicken or a domestic fowl bred for its flesh and eggs.
  2. Tusumbi (plural) = chickens or domestic fowls bred for their flesh and eggs.
  3. Lipato (from Portuguese or Spanish) = duck or a water bird raised for its meat and eggs.
  4. Mapato (plural) = ducks or water birds raised for their meat and eggs.
  5. Ntsintsi = goose.
  6. Vantsintsi (plural) = geese.
  7. Ntento = quail.
  8. Vantento = quails.
  9. Livembe = pigeon.
  10. Mavembe (plural) = pigeons.
  11. Nkanga = guineafowl.
  12. Vankanga (plural) = guineafowls.
  13. Nkumbua = ostrich. (The name “nkumbua” can be found in many verses of the Mbimbiliya (the Luchazi bible). “Mavava a nkumbua a fuakuluka mu ku lihalesa.” (the wings of the ostrich flaps proudly) ~ Yombi (Job) 39: 13).
  14. Niamalanda = ostrich. Other sections of the Luchazi people call it as niamalanda.
  15. Ndemba = male bird; rooster.
  16. Kutambeka = crow.
  17. Cali = female bird or hen.
  18. Kukeketa = cluck.
  19. Camba = chicken coop; poultry house.
Domesticated birds in Luchazi language

Luchazi proverb: Kasumbi kapuputua ku sandala va li na meso (The blind hen scratches for those who have eyes).

Vulanguluisi: Kasumbi ua kapuputua a sandala mu livu ngue nkala kasumbi vunoni vaze va li na meso lika va ka hasa ku vezika via-ku-lia. Ciheve a ku hasa ku panga na ndzili vunoni vaze lika va na zangama va ku hasa ku vezika ku vipanga vieni.

Ku Hetesa: Mukua ku zangama a vezika ku fuitangana ca ciheve.

Beekeeping terms in Luchazi to English

  1. Beehive = ngoma.
  2. Ku pamba ngoma = to make a beehive from a tree bark.
  3. Ku sosa = the action of putting the beehive up the tree.
  4. Lisoso = a long rope used to take the beehive up the tree.
  5. Lifuliko lia ngoma
  6. Ngoma i li a mualati = the beehive is up a tree and hanged in the fork of branches.
  7. Musenge ua vufumpu = forest or bush of 'vufumpu'.
  8. Ntsani ya nkuve = flower of 'nkuve'.
  9. Tsentsentse
  10. Chinyundu
  11. Bee = mpuka.
  12. Vuci = honey.
  13. Cisila = honeycomb.
  14. Sela = wax.

Luchazi proverb: Ngoma cula; mene tu ka pamba yeka (A beehive is a piece of bark; tomorrow we will make another).

Vulanguluisi: Ngoma va i pamba na cula kaha nga cula ci pihia, vitanga viahi, muomu mene ci ka pua ca casi ku pamba yeka.

Ku Hetesa: Nga vimo vi pihia, kati tu kale ca citanga. mene litangua lieka tu ka hasa ku viukisako.


Types of honey:
  1. Vuci vua mpuka = honey made by bees.
  2. Vuci vua mase.
  3. Vuci vua mala.
  4. Vuci vua malianda.
  5. Vuci vua tu-mbulumbulu.
  6. Vuci vua matambi.

Group animal names in Luchazi to English

  1. Ndzema = swarm.
  2. Ndzema ya Vampuka = swarm of bees.
  3. Zindzema = swarms.
  4. Vutanga = herd or flock.
  5. Matanga (plural) = herds or flocks.
  6. Cimpuma = flock or herd.
  7. Vimpuma (plural) = flocks.
  8. Lihuma = group of birds.

Farm tools in Luchazi to English

  1. Njimbu = axe.
  2. Zinjimbu (plural) = axes.
  3. Njimbu ya mutaka = hatchet.
  4. Litemo = hoe, coulter.
  5. Matemo (plural) = hoes, coulters.
  6. Likandu = mattock.
  7. Makandu (plural) = mattocks.
  8. Mulanja = a large single-edged, bladed knife used for chopping agricultural work (cutting cassava stems or stakes).
  9. Hala = rake.
  10. Pa = shovel.
  11. Zipa (plural) = shovels.
  12. Fosholo = shovel.
  13. Cikekele = plough.
  14. Cilambeso ca livu = harrow.
  15. Cilambeso ca muzingulule = harrowing disc.
  16. Cikuniso = planter.
  17. Cikuvilo = seed holder used in sowing; a traditional gourd bowl used in sowing seeds.
  18. Citieso = harvesting tool.
  19. Cizunguiso = threshing implement..
  20. Vizunguiso (plural) = threshing implements.
  21. Cisehua = winnowing basket.
  22. Lisehua = winnowing basket.
  23. Cisampuiso = sprinkler.
  24. Visampuiso (plural) = sprinklers.
  25. Mpoko ya ku sondouesa = pruning shear or knife.
  26. Zimpoko zia ku sondouesa (plural) = pruning shears or knives.
  27. Mpoko ya ku tiesa = harvesting knife.
  28. Zimpoko zia ku tiesa (plural) = harvesting knives.
  29. Citi ca ku ndivuisa= goads.
  30. Viti via ku ndivuisa = goads.

Types of farms in Luchazi to English

  1. Mihanda = new farming fields.
  2. Ciseve = a one-year-old farming field.
  3. Cimbete = a two-year old farming field.
  4. Lihia = farm or farming field; an area of open land where plants or crops are grown for food.
  5. Lihia lia ndemba = a farming field managed by a husband for feeding his extended family.
  6. Mehia a ndemba (plural) = farming fields managed by husbands for feeding their extended family members.
  7. Muhaka = garden or a piece of land used for growing vegetables.
  8. Lihia lia viniu = vineyard.
  9. Citungu ca miti ya mihako = orchard; a piece of enclosed land planted with fruit trees.
  10. Cihemba = field of cassava.

Luchazi proverb: "Ndimi ka fuika cimputu. Kuimbo ku li via-ku-lia." (If the farmer does not cover the pumpkins, there is much food in the village).

Vulanguluisi: Vandimi va li na cilika ca ku fuika mamputu na viti hamo na visoni linga tusitu va ku musenge kati va vi lile. Omo ndimi ka fuika mamputu ci lekesa ngecize kuimbo kuli via-ku-lia via vingi.

Ku Hetesa: Nongonona vimueso via vindende vi va panga vantu linga u nongonone viuma na ku kala na mana.

Welcome to my profile. I am a proud member of the Luchazi tribe, dedicated to Honouring our ancestors by preserving our rich history. This blog is a digital home for the history, ways of life, custom practices, beliefs, values and social forms of the Luchazi people. It is a space built on deep respect for our past and hope for our future. Through this platform, I share authentic insights into the Luchazi history, way of life, including: The geographic roots of the Luchazi people, Luchazi identity and population, Origins and ancestry, Prehistoric Angola and Luchazi heritage, Precolonial Angola, Luchazi creation myths, Traditional society, etc,. Why I Started This Blog: Our heritage is not just history—it is a living blueprint for who we are. In a rapidly changing world, it is vital that we tell our own stories from an insider's perspective. I want to ensure our children and the wider world understand the depth of Luchazi history and culture. Whether you are a fellow community member looking to reconnect, or a visitor eager to learn about our vibrant way of life, I welcome you. Nja sangala, and thank you for walking this path of historical and cultural preservation with me.

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