Nyaudzosingwi

Nyaudzosingwi.

Shona ideophones, the words that carry a sound.

B

bangaPutting something safely away; packing up your belongings.banganyiBeing smashed to pieces.bangwaFollowing a path closely, without straying from it.baniGripping or pinching something hard between the fingers.bararaScattering widely over open ground, as a crowd does when it runs from danger; also, catching sight of something in plain view.bariGiving off a single spark.barivafaLonging eagerly for something to eat or drink.bauActing quickly, or snatching something and running off with it.bazanuSorting things out into their kinds.bebenuComing round; regaining consciousness.befuA breath let out; a sigh, or a breather after hard work.benaWalking slowly, in no hurry at all.bendeketeSitting with arms and legs folded, as a mark of respect.benemeneClear and bright, like a sky without a single cloud.benenguLifting something up to look underneath it.bengenuComing clearly into view, or suddenly seeing clearly, as when the sky clears.bengwaListening intently.bepuComing round suddenly from a faint or from sleep.beraSitting down somewhere you are not allowed to sit.bereFollowing close behind.berekaneChasing hard after someone to catch them.berengendeFollowing a path well; also, looking visibly healthier.beteteSettling comfortably into a seat, fully at rest; also, going deeper and deeper into something.bezaSitting quietly.bharangandaLightning flashing in a thunderstorm; also, looking sharp and clever, a door opening wide, or food that is too hot with chilli.bherengendeFlying wide open all at once; also, flinging a door open and barging straight in.bhidiriBeing smashed, or badly hurt.bizuSetting about hard physical work.boA hard blow, especially a slap across the mouth.bububuFilling a small container right up with solid things.bvukuShaking or being shaken; also, guessing.bvuraBeing relaxed and at ease.bvuuBursting out laughing; also, shaking something to get the dust off, or freezing with fear.bwitiSinking under water; running out of air, as when drowning.bwititiMany things moving about in a confused, excited rush.bwituA single flash of light.bwodoTalking nonsense; telling untruths.bwodomoTalking nonsense.

C

chakataBeing wet, or feeling something cold and damp against the skin; also, food being plentiful, or things lying scattered everywhere.chakwa chakwaSplashing along through shallow water or mud.chakwataBeing soaked through, especially clothes or ground.chambwaSplashing water all about, or being spattered by it.changinjaSnatching something, especially a weapon, out of someone's hands.chanjandaraRefusing point-blank to change your mind.chanyauCutting roughly without care; doing a job carelessly and badly.chichinuMany people moving together in one direction; also, getting a great deal at once.chimhuDrawing water from a well or river.chinjinjiLying with the legs sticking up, like a dead animal; also, stiff things standing upright into the air.chinjinyaDying suddenly and alone.chinjiriLying stretched across something, with limbs sticking up.chivhuCutting deep and fast with something sharp.

D

dangaraSwallowing food without chewing it.danguranguBeing stuffed full after eating, with the belly swollen.dekeBeating someone to death.dekedeseSending a child or a weak person alone to a faraway place.dekeshuTurning round and going back the way you came; also, shelling things such as groundnuts.deku dekuSpeaking every word clearly and distinctly.dendereGoing straight along a path without turning off.denenguSpeaking plainly and openly, hiding nothing.dengaHeading straight off towards somewhere.denga dengaCarrying something balanced on the head.dengaiBalancing; also, walking in a way that shows pride.dengeBalancing without any support; also, heading for where you are going.dengeneShaking something heavy.denguBobbing up and down on the surface of water, as a light thing does; also, bobbing the head.denheSetting something moving with a touch or a puff of breath.denhuGoing or sloping downhill; also, provoking someone for no reason, setting something going, starting an engine, or spilling.denoBeing taken aback and at a loss what to do.denuGoing down a slope.denyuVanishing on the spot, completely.dereGoing straight down a steep slope.deruGoing down a slope steeply and fast.detembuPraising someone, especially in the traditional, ritual way.detsuBearing a great deal; being very fruitful.deuSpilling out; also, the sun going down.didiDrinking a lot, fast.didimuCalling many people together at once; also, driving a large herd of animals away or towards somewhere.didinyaBeing stone dead; dying on the spot.didiriDriving away a crowd of people.difaStooping or sagging with tiredness or age; also, being hollowed inwards.difa difuWalking the way a short, stout person does.diga digaWalking with heavy, powerful steps.digiStepping into a place; turning up somewhere without warning.dimiSpeaking in figures and hints, not plainly.dimuCutting through something, such as a log or a stick, with a single stroke.dindiriFilling something to the brim, or tying it so tight it cannot move; also, coiling tightly round something, or a round thing falling and rolling.dindiziriBouncing back off something hard.dingaBeing conceited; thinking yourself important.dinga dingaWalking stiffly, as if on stilts.dinhuReleasing a pent-up force, as when a trap is sprung.dinywaDying.dirinhiriBeing startled all of a sudden.ditiDrinking far too much.dukuA dog bringing up its food slowly.dukuShrinking down in fear; losing heart; crouching low.dukununuSitting hunched up and joyless; also, huddling together, as children do round a fire in winter.dukwaSitting hunched over, crouched low.dumaGoing blunt.dumbiChastening someone, taking the joy out of them; also, being left crestfallen.dumbunuBringing out into the open something that should have stayed hidden.dumbunuruComing upon something you never expected to find.dundunduBeing angry and sulking in silence.dunduruStanding out on top of something; also, a container being full to the top.dunduziFeeling your way along with a stick, as a blind person does.dungunuTasting delicious.dunhuChopping off small branches; also, letting go a pent-up force.dunzuBiting a piece off something held in the hand, such as meat; also, grazing on young shoots.duuBeing lost in deep thought.dzadzanuPopping out of a hiding place close to the ground, as from a hole.dzakariyataGoing off never to return; being lost for good.dzakuLifting something heavy.dzamaraVanishing suddenly.dzamaramaFollowing something through to the very end; also, getting lost in your words, especially when giving evidence.dzamhuPulling off something stuck to the hand or foot.dzamuScooping up a handful, especially of things that stick together.dzamwanyaTalking in a muddled, senseless way.dzangara dzangaraVanishing from sight all at once, like mist fading away.dzaswaTalking carelessly, without paying attention.dzemberereHanging by the hands.dzengere dzengereCircling round with a purpose.dzerereSpinning round fast.dzetu dzetuSwaying from side to side while walking.dzidzimuComing round after losing consciousness.dzikaSetting something down gently.dzika dzikaCalming down; being settled and at peace.dzikitiComing down from a height and landing firmly; also, keeping your composure, or setting down a gift too heavy to hand over.dzindiWorking against someone; opposing them.dziridzidiBeing slippery underfoot.dzirikitiPutting something out; also, a path petering out.dziva dzivaWandering slowly about looking for something, as if lost in thought.dzoboPecking, as a bird does when it feeds.dzokonoTurning back the way you came.dzomotoMaking up a false story; talking nonsense.dzororoStanding stock-still.dzvemereStaying close to someone.dzvokoStaring hard and long, without looking away; also, glaring.

F

fashanuComing out in large numbers all at once.fashataSitting cross-legged, the way a stout person does.fashuComing out in large numbers together; boiling over; slopping over the top of a vessel.femaGrowing stout; also, cutting a piece out of a whole.fembuSniffing in through the nose; also, getting wind of something, suspecting.fendeketeFlopping down to sit, whether or not it is polite or convenient, as a tired person does.fenduCutting a piece off something; also, crops sprouting all together.fenengaPerching on a high place; also, standing with the stomach drawn in.fenengeStanding with the stomach drawn in, after breathing out.fenenyaWrinkling the nose in scorn.fengaFlaring the nostrils.ferendendeBeing swamped with too many things to do; also, people or animals scattering over a wide area.ferenguHollowing something out, as when carving a wooden dish.ferenuPeeling something such as an orange or a potato; also, swelling.foveCaving in; also, gulping food down whole.foviPopping something into the mouth and swallowing it whole.fovoGoing soft and shrivelled, like a potato kept too long.fovotoGoing soft and starting to rot, like fruit.fovovoShrivelling, like an old potato; caving in; also, falling silent once you have been convinced.fozoFalling from a great height.fudyuOpening the eyes wide; staring with bulging eyes.fufumuSwelling up; also, a river rising.fukataTurning your back on someone; also, embracing.fukushuGoing back the way you came.fumuShaming someone in public, or belittling something.funduBulging out, like a hump on the back.fundu funduWalking along showing off.fundumwaSulking, with an angry face and a closed mouth.

G

gegeLaughing heartily.go-oSitting still for a long time.godoLaughing loudly.goma gomaPiling things up in a heap.gombeGoing weak, especially at the knees; also, heading off or flanking.gon'oGoing blunt, or blunting a blade; also, refusing to give, or striking a hollow-sounding blow.gon'on'oSquatting with the knees apart.gonyoBending something out of shape; being dented.goriSitting alone and unruffled on a high place.gumbaEmbracing someone; folding the arms.gumbu gumbuRunning heavily, feet thudding on the ground.gundumaThunder rumbling; also, exposing what should have stayed covered.gunduruFinishing off food or drink; also, a heavy, hollow thing rolling with a booming sound, like an empty drum.gundurukaOf food or drink, being finished off; of an empty drum, tumbling and booming; also, many people moving together.gurugundyuSwallowing noisily, as with a big mouthful of sadza.guruzuGrazing the skin slightly.guruzuzuKeeping perfectly still, like an owl on a branch.gurwadaKneeling humbly to hand something to someone you respect; also, sinking to the knees as they give way.gurwiGulping food down with an audible swallow.gutsuNodding in agreement; also, nodding off with sleep.guumuKnocking or peeling loose something that clings.guumudzaTapping the bottom of a container to get the last of its contents out.guwaCausing distress; grieving.gwachataCollapsing from weakness.gwadaDropping quickly to one or both knees.gwadaraFalling in a heap, first to the knees and then to the ground.gwadiFitting exactly.gwaduSnapping something off where it was firmly fixed, as when a plough part strikes a stump.gwanan'wanaBeing wide awake; also, shining brightly, like the sun after rain.gwedegweBeing the same size.gwedere gwedereWalking slowly and feebly.gwejeLocking tightly together, as horns or metal couplings do; also, the rumble of a cart over a stony road.gwerededeSmooth and soft in texture, like well-mixed flour.gwiriSetting out on a journey; starting to follow a trail.

H

hutuSetting off and vanishing quickly, as a bus pulling away or a car speeding off.

J

jamuLifting something up all of a sudden.

K

kanaBeing taken completely by surprise.kufengaScraping and shaping a pot while it is being made.kugwadukaBreaking off from where it was fixed.kwesheSitting down.kwetsuA sudden, piercing scream or wail; also, a burst of ululation.

M

manguFilling up a container, whatever it is and whatever it holds.manguTaking a big bite of something soft, such as a sweet.mbuCutting off a short piece, such as a piece of dried meat.mbuDropping down dead.mbu-uSpotlessly white, like freshly washed clothes, or white with flour or dust.mbumuBlowing out a puff of smoke, or dust billowing up; also, touching lightly.mbumuzuStriking a glancing blow.mbureteteGleaming white and clean.mhanharaLanding close by after a jump, of something unwelcome.mweeSpotlessly white or clean.

N

ndeeStaring fixedly at something, eyes unmoving.ndoPitch black or thoroughly dirty; also, perishing to the last one.ngumbu ngumbuRunning with a heavy, thudding stride.nwiFalling completely silent.nyamuGetting up quickly; also, lifting something quickly.nyapiriririBright red.nyawaWalking with a swaying gait.

P

papataWalking flat-footed; also, drying out stiff and hard, as parched lips.pfi pfiSniggering, laughing while trying to hold it in.pfiku pfikuSobbing in little catches, as if with hiccups.pfipfinyikaGiggling shyly or nervously; also, sniggering behind someone's back.pwatiBursting out laughing; also, bursting open.pwesheSettling down heavily to sit; sitting about idle.pwiri pwiriLaughing over and over, in bursts.

R

rapataLying limp and sprawled out, from illness or exhaustion.razuBeing drained of all strength.ringinyiLying curled up asleep.rukutuUtterly exhausted, with no strength left in the body.

T

tandeSetting off at once and heading straight for somewhere, often at speed.tororoRunning dead straight, like a path.tsemuBeing struck hard.tumbiStanding dumbstruck, at a loss what to do.tuzuBeing at a loss, staring blankly with nothing to say or do.twiiStanding stock-still and upright.

V

voArriving suddenly.

W

ware wareSpread out all over, as people sitting scattered about a place; also, gathering up everything and carrying it off.wiririRunning swiftly past.

Z

zeteSitting quietly for a long while, idle; also, a blade chopping or stabbing deep into something.ziiFalling completely silent, with not a sound.

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