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Showing 70 result(s) for "little".
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bbanga EN→LG

e- (li/ma) space; room; time, inter- val; opportunity, chance, amagye ag'omu bbanga, air force, mu bbanga lya myaka mitono, in the course of a few years, E — waliyo obuduukaduuka obwesudde ama- banga. At: — there are numerous poor little shops scattered around, cf. banga.

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dda (-zze EN→LG

nzize) v.i. return, come back; go back; go; come up (of crops); take effect (of medicine), kudda mu mbeera, to return to normal, kudda mu maziga, to burst into tears; kudda mu ddiiro, to do a job over (because it was poorly done the first time); to dance again, kudda ngulu, to regain consciousness; to wake up. kudda buto, to become childish, enter one's second childhood (see buto for additional meanings). kudda ku mabbali, to stand aside, kudda mu bi- gere bya..., to follow in the footsteps of, succeed. Tayinza kudda awo kumala bi- seera bye. He can't just stand around and waste his time, abanlu abatalina kadda eri mumwa, people who have nothing to eat, lit. who do not have (a little thing, kantu implied) which returns to the lip. Emmere ezze. The food has been vomited up or The crops have come up.

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finger EN→LG

engalo. little f., nnasswi. first f., olunwe, nvamumba. second f., kkwemmembekedde. thumb, ekinkumu.

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kalimu EN→LG

a- also akalimo. (ka/bu) task, chore, small job. obulimulimu, various little chores/ tasks, cf. ^mulimu.

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kamu EN→LG

a- lit. one (little thing, akantu is implied). The phrase n'akamu is used with neg. verbs and is translated not at all. ebigambo ebitasanyusa n'akamu, words which are not pleasing at all. cf. ^-mu.

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katono EN→LG

a- as an adv. a little, a little bit; slightly. Yatambulako katono. He walked a short distance (or a short time). After a neg. verb, n'akatono means not at all, not in the least. Simukkiriza n'akatono. I do not believe him at all. Before a verb in the subjunctive it means nearly, almost.

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kawonvu EN→LG

a- (ka/bu) small valley. Sijja ku- menya kawonvu na kagga ku ntambula yange, i will not gp into details about my trip, lit. I will not mention the little valley and the little river, cf. ekiwonvu.

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kayumba EN→LG

a- (ka/bu) small house; bathroom. akayumba k'embwa, dog house, akayumba k'enkoko, chicken coop, akayumba ka penitensia, relig. confessional. Ennaku zanzimba akayumba ku mutwe. I have nothing but sorrow/trouble, lit. troubles have built a little house on my head. cf. ennyumba.

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kkukuuzi EN→LG

e- no plur. (li/ma) dust, residue of crushed grass, kulonda bwoya mu kkukuuzi, to be occupied in an extremely difficult task, lit. pick up little hairs from the dust. cf. olukukuuzi.

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kyana EN→LG

e- (ki/bi) plump little child; fat, slovenly youngster; trailer (on a car or truck), ebyana by'ennyaanya, tomato seeds, ebyana by'ebiwuka, eggs of insects. Ebijaguzo bijja kubaako n'ekyana. There will be tremendous celebrations, cf. omwana.

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kyosi EN→LG

e- (ki/bi) respite, time off. Akabimbi akatono, kakira ekyosi. (prov.) A little bit of cultivating is better than doing nothing. cf. yosa.

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labira (-labidde) v.tr. appl. see for/in EN→LG

etc.; get for, provide; give greetings for another. Omundabira. Give him my regards. kulabira mu maddu, to be overjoyed to see (something, somebody). okulabira ku..., judging from, compared with. Kino kitono nnyo okulabira ku nkuba etonnya wano mu K. This is very little compared with the rain that falls here in K. kulabira awo (a high-frequency phrase which is difficult to reduce to any simple English equivalent): to get or see something by surprise or unintentionally; to do something without having made plans. Simanyi oba nga nnaagenda, leero nnaalabira awo. I do not know if I am going, I shall have to see/I really have no definite plans. Nnaalabira awo nga bandeetedde ku kamere. I was surprised when they brought me a little food. Baalabiraawo nga bazannya. They happened to be playing. Ndabira awo ekitabo kyange. You see that book of mine over there, give it to me. awo nga nkulabira or awo we nnalabira (stylized ending for a fable or tale). So the tale endeth.

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lusuluugi EN→LG

o- with the -a of rel. few, small in number; scant, little; scattered. Abantu baabadde ba lusuluugi. There was only a scattering of people. There were only a few people.

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luyovuyovu EN→LG

o- no plur. (lu/n) a small amount of foam. Amaanyi nnina ga luyovuyovu. I just have a little bit of strength, cf. ejjovu.

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mabega EN→LG

a- (li/ma) back, in the form emabega ai art adv. back; behind, emabega w'oluggi, behind the door, emabega wange, behind me. emabegako katono, a little while back, little farther back (in space). ku Lwokutaano olwa wiiki eku- biddwa amabega, on Friday of last week. cf. bbega.

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mamera EN→LG

a- plur. (li/ma) period of growth; period of sprouting of seeds. Aka- kyama amamera tekagolokokeka. (prov.) The little tree (aka- implies akati) which is crooked when it grows does not straighten up. Evil habits acquired in childhood are not usually eradicated in adulthood. c f, mera.

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mweyogereze EN→LG

o- (mu/ba) wheedler, coaxer. Omweyogereze takusuuza kayanzi ko. (prov.) The coaxer does not make you throw your little grasshopper away. A person cannot be talked out of what he holds dear. cf. yogera.

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nkenku EN→LG

e- (n/n) beer made with very little sorghum; excessively sweet beer. Ekiwoo- mereze ekitatadde kye kizaala enkenku. (prov.) Sweetness which does not cease produces nkenku. Excess may ruin something that is essentially good.

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nsaano EN→LG

e- (n/n) flour, okusiwa nsaano ku mazzi, to add flour to water, i.e., to waste one's breath/time; to be too little/insignificant.

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siga (-size) v.tr. sow EN→LG

plant seed in. Ata- lisiga kumpi nange z'asiga zirisaasaana. (prov.) lit. The one who does not plant near me, what he plants will be scattered. A person who does not have the same beliefs as I do will never convince me of his ways and his words will have little or no effect on me.

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siiga (-siize) v.tr. smear EN→LG

rub; paint (a picture); infect, contaminate, kusiiga mulwa- dde, to anoint a sick person, administer the last sacraments, kusiiga langi, to paint, color fan object), kusiigako liiso, to see; to meet, okusiiga akazigo ku maaso, to use sweet talk in lying or deceiving, lit. smear a little oil on the eyes. Akusiiga enziro. He is damaging your reputation.

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siwa (-siye) v.tr. season EN→LG

add (an ingredient to food or drink to flavor it, such as salt to meat, sorg/ium to beer, etc.). okusiwa nsaano ku mazzi, lit. add flour to water, i.e., to waste one's breath; to be little/insignificant. okusiwa ekiyobyo, to waste one's effort/breath, okusiwa amazzi, to

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ssa (-ssizza EN→LG

nzisizza) v.i. & tr. caus. of kka, q.v. make to go down;'put, place; set up, establish; put forth, bear (fruit, of the plantainj; breathe, okussa ekimu, to agree, come to an agreement; to receive Holy Communion. Bassa kimu nga nkuyege. They get along very well, lit. like termites, okussa ekikkowe, to sigh, okussa omukka, to sigh, draw a breath, okusaako omwoyo, to pay attention, okussa omukono ku nda- gaano, to sign an agreement, okussaamu ekitiibwa, to honor, okussaako, to count in, include, okwo ssaako, and add to that, and besides that, okussaako essira, to stress, emphasize, okussaawo abiri, to look at, just look at (abiri implies maaso, eyes), butassa mukono, without resting, without stopping, kussaawo kikyo (eki- gambo), contribute to a discussion, put in one's own ‘two cents.' kussaawo kakalu, to post bail/a bond. Toliimu kassa. You are really stupid. Yagambye nti amaze oku- ssaawo gavumenti ey'ekiseera. He said that he had set up a provisional government. Nnaalongo teyassaamu kantu nga batambula. The wife did not hesitate and they went off. akalenzi kaba kabissa kati ne..., just as the little boy finished telling these things...

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ttuulawamu EN→LG

e- no plur. (li/ma) staying in one place, sedentariness. Yalaba ng'ettuu- lawamu limuzimbyeko akayumba. He felt that staying in one place was getting on his nerves, lit. building a little house on him.

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twanyi EN→LG

o- (tu/-) a little strength, a little force. Taliimu twanyi. He hasn't got an ounce of strength, cf. amaanyi.

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wunya (-wunye EN→LG

mpunye) v.i. smell, produce a smell/odor; stink, kuwunya bugobe, to seem to be certain of losing a game/a sporting competition, kuwunya lugendo, to be almost ready to depart, be on the point of departure, kuwunya luliroliro, to smell or look like one who has been working over a hot stove, kuwunya buwunyi ku mmere, to pick at one's food, eat only a little, kuwunyayo buwunyi or kuwunyamu buwunyi, to go to a place and leave soon, stay only for a short time. Era ye munnange mu nju yawunyamu buwunyi nga yeggyawo. And my friend just went into the house briefly and then went right out. Tewali mmotoka egi- wunyamu. There is no other car which is its equal. Obukulu bumuwunyako. Old age is creeping up on him.

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mutego LG→EN

o- trap; bow; fig. trap, snare, pitfall. Akateeyanira ke kafa omutego. (prov.) lit. (The little animal) which does not cry out dies in the trap. Survival is granted only to those who fight for it. cf. tega, obutego.

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ziraga (-ziraze) LG→EN

v.tr. embalm; rub a little butter on the forehead of a deceased person. (This is part of an old funeral ceremony known as *taking leave of the dead/)

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fuuyirira (-fuuyiridde) v. tr. appl. 2 keep blowing; blow with intensity; blow on to cool LG→EN

kufuuyirira kanwe (or kagalo), to wish someone bad luck; to wait impatiently for a desired event, lit. to keep blowing on one's little finger. Fuuyirira enkuba ereme kutonnya. Keep your fingers crossed (make a wish) that it won't rain. Nga bw'ampisizza bw'atyo nja kumufuuvirira agwe ebibuuzo. Since he has treated me in this fashion, I hope/I am going to make a wish that he flunks his examinations.

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fa (-fudde) v.i. die; be killed; be destroyed; get in trouble/in a jam; go out of order; become useless; spoil LG→EN

go sour (e.g., of milk), kufa mwoyo, to become disheartened/depressed. kufaako nsonyi, to die of shame/embarrassment. (Ebintu) bifa bantu. You cannot always win/be successful/get what you want (said in self-commiseration after a failure). Akanaafa tekawulira nnombe. (prov.) lit. The little (animal, akasolo, implied) who is to die does not hear (the sound of) the horn. Danger comes unawares. The infinitive okufa or okufa obufi serves as an intensifier for a preceding verb. Yazina okufa. She danced a great deal/ with great intensity. Omuwala yafaanana Nnambi okufa obufi. The girl resembled Nnambi in every detail. She was the very image of N.

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londerera (-londeredde) LG→EN

v.tr. appl. 2 keep picking up; pick up all the time. Awagwa ekku tewabula bulondererwa. (prov.) Where a large piece of firewood falls there is no lack of little pieces to pick up.

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menya (-menye) v.tr. break; break into (e.g. LG→EN

a house); destroy; capture (a stronghold); bend at the joint; close (a pocket knife, umbrella); refute, counter; retract; mention, refer to. okumenya akawonvu na kagga, to go into great detail, lit. mention the little valley and the little river, okumenya olu- kanda, to perform the rites at the birth of twins, okumenya emisoso, to give the details. okumenya ku mutwe, to nod the head. Musoke yamenyawo Mayanja mu bugagga. Musoke has now outstripped Mayanja in wealth.

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