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Showing 26 result(s) for "ability".
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bugonvu EN→LG

o- (bu/-) softness, suppleness, pliability. Obugonvu bw'olujegere, ge maanyi galwo. (prov.) The suppleness of a chain is its strength. A strong tree bends with the wind. cf. gonda, -gonvu.

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buwangaazi EN→LG

o- also obuwangaaliro (bu/-) durability, capability of lasting a long time; permanence; long life, longevity. cf. wangaala.

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expresses indifference EN→LG

carelessness, inevitability (in the sense of being obliged to do what one does not want to do) and even sheer exasperation. Tumaze ga- gendayo. We sent there just for the sake of going. Mumale gaddamu, temulowooza. Just give an answer, don't think about it first. Mala gakola. Just go ahead and do it. Don't spend too much time on it. Among the younger generation there is a tendency to drop the verbal stem which normally follows ga-. The meaning is implied from context, e.g., Twamala ga-. We simply went there (or simply did something else, dep ending on previous context).

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feign EN→LG

okwerowooza. f. sickness, okwerwaza. f. death, okwefiisa. f. ignorance, okwewubya, okw ewugguusa, okwewussa. f. sleep, okwefuluusa. f. inability, okwekekkezza. f. exertion, okwepacca. f. madness, okweralusa. f. assent, okuttikkirira.

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ffuluku (la) expert EN→LG

very skillful person. Yali ffuluku mu kukwata emisota. He was very skillful in his ability to handle snakes. Abantu bamwogerako nga ffuluku mu kumannya eddagala ery'ekinnansi. The people described him as being an expert in (knowing) native medicine.

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gwana (-gwanye) v.i. EN→LG

as an aux. verb before a following inf. denoting desirability, suitability or obligation Ogwana okugenda okulaba ssengaawo. You ought to (should, have to) go and see your aunt.

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mala (-maze) v.tr. finish EN→LG

complete; use up, consume; spend (time); satisfy, be sufficient for. v.i. suffice, be sufficient; be adequate; be enough. As an auxiliary verb mala has the following uses (adapted from Ashton's Luganda Grammar): 1) To denote completed action mala is followed by the main verb in the inf. Twamaze okusamba omupiira ng'obudde buzibye. We finished playing ball by the end of the day. 2) Followed by an inf. without the I.V., mala stresses the completion of an action before another action begins. Onoomala kuleeta mazzi. You will first bring water. 3) Followed by ga- and a verbal stem, mala expresses inevitability, obligation or simple carelessness. Tumaze gagendayo. We simply had to go there. Bamala gakomaga mbugo zityo. They just beat out the bark in any old way. 4) Followed by the neg. of the ne tense, mala indicates a reversal of decision.

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saana (-saanye) v.i. be fit EN→LG

suitable. In its simple form saana is mostly used as an aux. verb denoting suitability, desirability or obligation corresponding to English should, ought, must. Osaana okulya obulungi. You should/ought to eat well.

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-nga 1) suffixed to the imperative or simple past indicates renetitive or habitual action. Temugabanga bitali byammwe. Never give away what is not yours. Nga mukyali bato, mwalwananga awatali nsonga. When you were young, you used to fight without reason. Mixed

-nga 1) suffixed to the imperative or simple past indicates renetitive or habitual action. Temugabanga bitali byammwe. Never give away what is not yours. Nga mukyali bato, mwalwananga awatali nsonga. When you were young, you used to fight without reason. 2) suffixed to -li (be) it expresses probability and may be followed by any tense. Alinga alima. He seems to be cultivating. Enkuba eringa eneetonnya. It looks like rain, lit. the rain is like it will fall. Note that alinga nga is often pronounced and written alinna nga. Nninnanga ali mu kirooto. I am just like one who is in a dream. (E.O.A.)

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