Fishing vocabulary in Luchazi 

Here is a list of common fishing vocabulary to help you understand key terms related to angling in Luchazi language and their meanings in English:

General fishing terms in Luchazi

1. Mukua ku olovela = angler.
2. Vakua ku olovela = anglers.
3. Mukua ku ta vantsi = fisherman.
4. Vakua ku ta vantsi (plural) = fishermen.
5. Ndonga = river.
6. Mikonga = streams.
7. Cisali = Pool or lake.
8. Vindzavitita via mema = pools of water.
9. Cisandzi = swamp.
10. Mancimpa = waves; ridges of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore.
11. Nkunjo = watercourse.
12. Muta = current; a body of water moving continuously in a certain direction marked by force or strength.
13. Hungumuka = drift.
14. Ku lavula = retrieving – reeling the line back in; to catch fish from the fish traps or nets.
15. Ta = Casting – throwing a trap or fishing net into the water.
16. Ku sampula = setting the hook – jerking the rod to secure the fish on the hook.
17. ku tapa ndulo = to dig earthworms for baiting.

Types of fishing in Luchazi

1. Olovela = fishing; fly fishing – using a rod and line.
2. Ku olovela = to fish with a rod and line.
3. Suinga = fishing with a basket.
4. Ku suinga = to fish using a fishing basket.
5. Ku ta miziva = fishing using trap baskets.
6. Ku ta makinda = fishing using large trap baskets.
7. Ku ta makandza = fishing using trap baskets.

Common fish species in Luchazi

The freshwater fish consumed by Luchazi people, which we shall name some in Luchazi for lack of their equivalent scientific or English name, are:

1. Kapala = fish fingerling, young fish.
2. Tupala (plural) = fish fingerlings, young fish, fry.
3. Kafuti = small dark bulldog fish.
4. Mungumba = sardine.
5. Mingumba (plural) = sardines.
6. Vanienga = small or tiny fish.
7. Ntsondzi = small of the sharp-tooth fish family.
8. Ndzeza
9. Cimbumbu = a dark synodontis zambezensis fish.
10. Cingeni = yellowish leopard squeaker fish.
11. Musuta
12. Lipuli = sharptooth fish or African barbel fish.
13. Muiko = bottlenose fish.
14. Ndembe = bulldog fish.
15. Nkundu = red bellied bream fish.
16. Mutende = yellow bellied bream fish.
17. Cipulu = a small to medium sized bream fish species.
18. Mukunga = tiger fish.
19. Ntundua
20. Nguesi
21. Cilamba
22. Cizovolola = a large-mouthed bream fish species that is tasteless.
23. Niamukava
24. Ngali

To be continued...

Types of fish in Luchazi language

Fishing gear and accessories in Luchazi

1. Cimendzi = rod – a flexible pole used to cast and retrieve the line.
2. Vulovo = fishing hook – a curved metal piece used to catch fish.
3. Tulovo (plural) = fishing hooks.
4. Linata = big fishing hook – used to catch big fish.
5. Manata (plural) = big fishing hooks.
6. Ntsampi = bobber or float – a floating device that signals when a fish bites.
7. Sumbu = sinker – adds weight to help the bait sink.
8. Mukole = line – string (monofilament, braided) attached to the hook.
9. Ndulo = earthworm which is used as bait on small fishing hooks.
10. Vuanda = fishing net – used to scoop up a caught fish.
11. Manda (plural) = fishing nets.
12. Muziva = a fish basket trap made of reeds, wood and fibre gin.
13. Miziva (plural) = fish trap baskets.
14. Likinda = a medium to large size fish trap basket made from small wood poles and fibre gin.
15. Makinda (plural) = medium to large size fish trap baskets.
16. Likandza = a large fish trap basket made from small wood poles of zimpundia and fibre gin.
17. Makandza (plural) = large fish trap baskets.
18. Litambi = fishing basket.
19. Matambi (plural) = fishing baskets.
20. Lilela = a large woven fishing mat used to catch or scoop up sardines and small fish.
21. Malela (plural) = large woven fishing mats.
22. Mumba = fishing spear.
23. Miumba (plural) = fishing spears.
24. Zintsempe = barbs; barbed.
25. Vuato = canoe; boat.

Fish dressing in Luchazi language 

1. Pala = the process of removing scales.
2. Ku pala = to scrap the fish scales off with a knife or fish scaler.
3. Makenge = fins of fish.
4. Cilele = tail fin.
5. Mazaza = gills.
6. Mavanda = scales of fish.
7. Ku aneka = to sun dry the fish.
8. Ku tungika = to smoke the fish.
9. Mpali = a small, long stick that is split in the middle for packing fish especially when smoking.
10. Mutungo = a small, long stick that is split in the middle for packing fish when smoking. (Note: Some Luchazi elders say this term is from Luvale language.)