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

Luchazi proverb: U na tela mema; vantsi va na hiti laza (You have set your trap in the water, but the fish have gone through long ago).

Vulanguluisi: U na ka tokaho ha ku tela manda mukemo u na zimbalesa via ku tovala omo lia ku kotokela cove.

Ku Hetesa: Hangula vuasi vi u ka panga linga vivezikiso via muono kati vi ku hite ngoco.

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 vuanda = to cast a fish net.
6. Ku ta miziva = to set fish trap basket; fishing using trap baskets.
7. Ku ta makinda = fishing using large trap baskets.
8. Ku ta makandza = fishing using trap baskets.

Luchazi proverb: Ku suinga, ku kundika ku lisinde (In fishing with a basket, prop it against a tussock or clump of grass).

Vulanguluisi: Vanana mu ku suinga ve ku zendama litambi ha livue cipue ha lisinde linga litambi kati li hungumuke na muta. Omo tu li na vitanga kaha lika lietu tu li na ku zeya ca cili cikuma ku kala na vakua ku tu kuatesa.

Ku Hetesa: Ca tu pande tu va vose ku kala na vavusamba vaze va hasa ku tu kuatesa mu vitanga na mu viuma vize vi lema mu miono yetu.

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

Luchazi proverb: Likinda lia kele ku ntsongo li neza ha kati; likandza lia kele ha kati va na li fumisaho (The medium size fish trap basket has been placed in the middle; the large fish trap basket which was on the middle has been removed).

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.)