NAHAU ZA KISWAHILI NA MAANA ZAKE [TRANSLATED SWAHILI SAYINGS]

Imenukuliwa kutoka Gazeti la HABARILEO, Tanzania la Alhamisi,  Januari 8 - 14, 2015
Na  GENOFEVA  MASAO

Amekula chumvi nyingi            -  Ameishi miaka mingi [lived a long life]
Ahadi ni deni                           - Timiza ahadi yako [be trustworthy; keep your promise]
Amewachukua wazee wake    -  Anawatunza vizuri wazazi wake [taking good care of parents]
Amekuwa popo                      - Yu kigeugeu [ a turncoat]
Amevaa miwani                      - Amelewa pombe [chakari] [inebriation, a drunkard]
Amekuwa mwalimu                 - Yu msemaji sana  [a talkative person]
Amemwaga unga                     - Amefukuzwa kazi [ dismissed from employment]
Ana ulimu wa upanga               - Ana maneno makali  [biting words]
Ameongezwa unga                  - Amepandishwa cheo [promoted]
Agizia risasi                             - Piga risasi  [shoot!]
Chemsha bongo                      - Fikiri kwa makini  [think analytically]
Kuchungulia  kaburi                 - Kunusurika kifo   [saved from a worse fate]
Fyata mkia                              - Nyamaza [keep silent]
Fimbo zimemwota mgongoni    -Ana alama ya mapigo ya Fimbo mgongoni [birching scars on ones' back]
Hamadi kibindoni                    - Akiba iliyopo kibindoni [savings for a rainy day]
Hawapikiki chungu kimoja       -Hawapatani kamwe !  [always at loggerheads]
Kupika majungu                      - Kufanya mkutano wa siri [conspire a secret meeting]
Kumpiga [kumvika] kilemba cha ukoka   -  Kumsifu mtu kwa unafiki [kinafiki] [paying lip service]
Kula mlungula                          - Kula rushwa [receiving a bribe]
Kupelekwa miyomboni            - Kutiwa [kupelekwa] jandoni [performing circumcision]
Kujipalia mkaa                         - Kujitia matatani [get yourself in trouble]
Kumeza [zea] mate                  - Kutamani   [to crave for]
Kumuuma mtu sikio                 - Kumnong'oneza mtu jambo la siri [tell a secret to someone]
Kumpa nyama ya ulimi             -Kumdanganya mtu kwa maneno matamu [using wiles to tell lies]
Kumchimba mtu                      - Kumpeleleza mtu siri yake  to dig one's secrets]
Kutia chumvi  katika mazungumzo  -  Kuongea habari za uwongo [tell lies]
Vunjika moyo                          -  Kata tamaa [give up]
Yalimkata maini                       - Yalimtia uchungu  [emotional pain]
Kujikosoa                               - Kujisahihisha  [correct your ways]
Kutia utambi                            - Kuchochea ugomvi  [convince someone to fight]
Kumeza maneno                      - Kutunza siri moyoni  [to keep a secret]
Kula njama                              - Kufanya mkutano wa siri [to conspire a secret meeting]
Kumkalia mtu kitako                - Kumsema/kumsengenya  [to talk about someone]
Kupiga vijembe                        - Kumsema mtu kwa fumbo [use idioms to talk about someone]
Kiinua mgongo                         - Malipo ya pongezi/uzeeni [pension]
Kazi ya majungu                       - Kazi ya kumpatia mtu posho [hand to mouth existence]
Kaza kamba                             - Usikate tamaa - [never give up!]
Kumwonyesha mgongo             -  Kujificha - [to hide]
Kuona cha mtema kuni             -  Kupata mateso [torture]
Maneno ya uwani                     - Maneno yasiyo na maana/porojo  -  [hyperbole !]
Mate ya fisi                              -  Kata tamaa kupita kiasi - [give up totally !]
Mbiu ya Mgambo                     - Tangazo [advertisement]
Mungu amemnyooshea kidole   - Mungu amemuadhibu -  [God's punishment]
Mkubwa jalala                          - Kila  lawama hupitia kwa mkubwa - [The eldest is the Dumping ground!]
Mkaa jikoni                               - Mvivu wa kutembea -  [a stay at home person]
Mungu si Athumani                    - Mungu hapendelei [God is fair]
Ndege mbaya                            - Bahati mbaya [bad luck]
Paka mafuta kwa mgongo wa chupa - Danganya [telling lies]
 Usiwe kabaila                                  - Usichume tokana na jasho la mwingine [Don't exploit others]
Usiwe kupe                                      -  Fanya kazi [be gainfully employed]
Usiwe bwanyenye                             -  Usichume kwa vitega uchumi vyako [don't be a capitalist!]
Usiwe na mrija                                  -  Usinyonye wenzako  [don't be exploitative]
Utawala msonga                               - Utawala wa wachache [leadership of the few]
Usiwe nyang'au                                 - Usidhulumu kwa kutumia madaraka [Don't use your position to exploit others]
usiwe Kikaragosi                              -  Usiwe chui katika ngozi ya kondoo [Don't be a sheep in a leopard's skin]
Umangimeza                                     -  Viongozi wanaopenda kuamrisha watu [a Dictatorship]
Kutoa ya mwaka                               - Kufanya jambo zuri na la pekee [performing a unique act]
Kumpa mtu ukweli wake                  -  Kumwambia mtu wazi [to be transparent]
Pua kukaribiana kushikana na uso     -  Kukunja uso kwa hasira [to express anger]
Sina hali                                            - Sijiwezi  [I am helpless (mostly when talking about love)]
Kupiga uvivu                                     - Kukaa tu bila kazi [abject laziness]
Kupiga kubwa                                   -  Kwenda moja kwa moja [vanishing act]
Kumwekea mtu deko                         -   Kulipiza  kisasi [pay back]
Mtu mwenye ndimi mbili                     -  Kigeugeu  [A turncoat]
Miamba ya mitishamba                       - Wanga hodari wa kienyeji [ expert wizardry]
Kupiga supu                                       - Tegea  [do the least]
Kupiga mali shoka                              - Gawana  [distribute (contraband, bullion, inheritance]
Kula vumbi                                         - Pata taabu   [struggle]
Mafungulia ng'ombe                            - Kati ya saa mbili na saa tatu [between 8.00  and 9.00 o'clock
Kutia kiraka                                        - Fichia siri [confiante]
Kumlainisha mtu                                  -  Kumzungumzia mtu maneno matamu mpaka akubali matakwa yako [convince someone to see eye to eye - to agree to your argument]