okunyigiriza, okukata, okukondekera, okuwagiikiriza; p. out, okukamula; (urge) okukubiriza.
n. (printing), ekyapa, ekyuma ekikuba ekyapa.
mbadde) v.i. be. In certain tenses ba is replaced by -li, Both may be used as primary verbs or as auxiliaries in compound tenses. bwe tuba mu ssomero, when we are in school. Yabadde anzise. He nearly killed me. Tuli mu kisenge. We are in the room. Twali tuli mu kisenge. We were in the room, ba and -li may be followed by na (-na in the case of -li) to express possession. Tulina ensimbi. We have money. Twabadde n'ensimbi. We had money.
pity, compassion. I am sorry! the poor fellow! the poor woman!
dig up (e.g., potatoes, plants with deep roots, etc.); fig. view with contempt, shrug one's shoulders at (as an expression of contempt).
o- (bu/-) darkness; hardship, pressure, difficulty; uncertainty, cf. guba.
o- (bu/-) exploitation, oppression; imperialism, cf. nyunyunta.
unconfined (of an animal); free, having no commitments (of a person); on the loose, at large (of a criminal); free, offering freedom of movement and expression (of a country), okulya obutaala, to be untethered/free, etc. Omubbi akyalya butaala. The thief is still at large.
prep, of agent not expressed.
v., okunyiga, okunyi giriza, okuwowojja, okukkata.
e- plur. amalimbwe (li/ma) excrement of birds (in larger amounts than is expressed by kaiimbwe, q.v.).
be, okunakuwala, okukekejuka.
ennaku, obunaku.
ebbanga; also expressed by wala.
okwogera, okwatula, okutegeeza.
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).
vide sad, pleasant,
e- no plur. (li/ma) harsh/oppressive rule; misrule. cf. fuga, -bi.
become bad (with obudde, expressed or implied, as subject). Obudde bugayegga- ye. The situation has become worse.
nnenze) v.i. go, go away; relieve oneself, ‘go.' Before a following infinitive it expresses future time. Tugenda kugenda. We are going to go. oku- lugenda, euph. to die, lit. to go on the journey (olugendo is implied by -lu-). Mu- naffe alugenze. Our friend is dead.
e- (li/ma) (augm. of kigere, q-v.) large foot, okulinnya eggere mu_, stop, block, suppress; intervene in. For a proverb with eggere see sambya.
e- (li/ma) bone, okusimba eggumba egganda, to walk. 01 uvannyuma lw'okuki- gaayagaaya baakizuula mpozzi nga kirimu eggumba. After thinking it over they realized that it might just be true, lit. after chewing it they found that perhaps it had a bone inside, okuggwa ku magumba, to lose weight, become all skin and bones, oku- tunguka ku magumba, to cook thoroughly (of meat). Ebigezo bino birimu eggumba. These examinations are quite difficult, lit. have some bone in them. Kirimu eggumba okugamba nti... It is difficult to maintain that. It is hard to say that. lit. There is a bone in saying that... Omwavu lw'alya ennyama amagumba asansa masanse. (prov.) When a poor man eats meat, he scatters the bones around (to impress others ).
reach a high point of intensity; be involved/ complicated (referring to a situation, either in a favorable or unfavorable sense). Gu- jabagidde: ng'omunafu azadde kaiiira. iii (low high low) interj. expressing surprise and flat contradiction I just don't believe you. (prov.) It is complicated affair, just as when a lazy cultivator gives birth to a heavy eater.
feel and express joyfulness. cf. sagambiza.
e- plur. amayute (li/ma) boil. Sserukama mayute: olunyiga ku lirye ng'akaaba. (prov.) lit. Mr. Squeezer-of- boils: when his is pressed, he cries. He can dish it out but he can't take it. cf. mwasajjute.
be under a strain; be troubled/preoccupied; be imposed on; be depressed; be wearied. Nnakkiriza n'omwoyo ogukabiriddwa. I agreed reluctantly/with a troubled heart.
etc.; stress, emphasize, be firm about; affirm confidently, assert; be hard on, put pressure on. okukaliriza amaaso, to look intently, okukaliriza amatu, to listen intently, okukaliriza olutalo, to prolong a battle.
project (of eyes); be or become wide open (of eyes, expressing rage, fright, etc.); be on the point of death (suggested by the action of the eyes); be overwhelmed; go up (of prices), amaaso, eyes is frequently used in association with kanuka and kanula. Akanuse amaaso. His eyes are open (with rage, etc.).
a- (ka/bu) pushing, jostling, pressing together, cf. nyiga.
a- (ka/bu) press, crowd, crowding. cf. nyiga, nyigana.
e- (ki/bi) leavings of grass and bananas which remain after the pressing process used in making beer, ebikamulo bya caayi, tea leavings, tea leaves after the substance has been pressed out of them. cf. kamula.
e- (ki/bi) fist, omukubi w'ebikonde, boxer, ebikonde, fists; boxing, okusekera mu kikonde, to laugh inwardly, suppress a laugh, cf. ekkonde.
e- (ki/bi) grimace, facial expression of disgust. Ebikongoolo tebitta nnume. (prov.) lit. Grimaces do not kill a bull. Sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me. cf. kongoola.
e- (ki/bi) rubber device on the brakes of a bicycle which presses against the tire when the brakes are applied.
e- (ki/bi) expression of appreciation to one who has cooked a good meal (e.g., by loosening one's belt), cf. teewuluza.
e- (ki/bi) lit. that which is feared, honor, glory; prestige, dignity; respect; reverence; pomp. None of the preceding equivalents expresses the full meaning of kitiibwa which is perhaps the greatest ideal and the most sought after attribute of the Baganda. It has an importune e comparable to that of ‘face' in the Orient, kufa kitiibwa, to feel shame/be ashamed (because of the actions or speech of another). cf. tya.
e- (ki/bi) whistling sound expressing surprise. Yafuuwa ekiwa. He whistled in surprise, cf. oluwa.
e- (ki/bi) ravine, valley, depression. cf. oluwonko.
nzikase) v.tr. press down.
nzikatidde) v.i. & impress down, weigh down; pack tightly; cram tightly.
left (as opposed to right); left hand; left side; the (political) left. omukono ogwa kkono, the left hand. Wa kkono. He is left-handed, obukiika obwa kkono, north, kugwa kkono, to miss, miss out on. Kyangwa kkono. I missed it. It escaped me. Yangwa kkono. I missed him (i.e., he wasn't there when I arrived) or I was never successful in my dealings with him. See ddyo.
do to a high degree (used in association with a previous verb. Often rendered in English by very much or a similar adverbial phrase.) Yeebaza n'akokkwa. He expressed very profuse thanks.
to; at; among (of place, time and other relationships), ku mmeeza, on the table, ku lunaku luno, on this day. to express the partitive okulya emmere, to eat food; okulya ku mmere, to eat some food/ some of the food, ku lwa (before an infinitive), because of, on account of. Ku Iw'oku- beera omulwadde teyajja. Because he was sick (= because of being sick) he did not come, ku lwa (before a substantive), on behalf of. ku lwange, on my behalf, ku lwa Gavumenti, on behalf of the Government. Ali ku bwa Katonda. He is very seriously ill, lit. he is in the (obuyinza, power, implied) of God. Nze siri ku muntu ayagala okunywa omwenge. I do not care for a person who likes to drink beer. In form and function ku is related to the enclitic -ko, q. v.
bend to the side, okukubiira ensingo, to turn one's neck to the side (to express unhappiness, disapproval or irritation).
call upon; urge; be insistent with. Yabakuutira omugaso oguli mu kusomesa Olungereza. He impressed on them the value to be derived from teaching English.
e- (ki/bi) [5a'., Pers.~\ print, type; printing press; printing establishment; road sign; poster; patch, ekyapa ky'ettaka, land title, ebyapa by'emmotoka, number plates of a car. kuwandiika mu kyapa, to print / as opposed to writing with normal handwriting). kukuba byapa, to patch up clothing; to repair a tire; to survey land. Lipoota eyo teyakubibwa mu kyapa. This report was not printed/published, cf. akaapa.
e- no plur. (ki/bi) loneliness, lonesomeness; sadness, depression, gloom: anxiety, concern, cf. yobeera.
e- (ki/bi) [Stf.] iron; metal; factory; machinery; machine; tool; device, ekyuma ekikuba ebifaananyi, camera, ekyuma eki- yimbisa amavinja, record player, ebyuma ebirima, farm machinery, ploughs, tractors, ekyuma kya ppamba, cotton ginnery, ebyuma ebikuba ebitabo, printing presses. Ngudde ebyuma or Ebyuma binsaze. colloq. I am completely out of money. I am broke. cf. 2akuuma, oluuma.
ndasizza) v.tr. shoot (an arrow); hit (with an arrow); fire (a shot, a gun); flick, flick away (with the finger); kick with the back legs (of a locust), okulasa eki- faananyi, to take a photograph, okulasa emboozi, to converse, okulasa entula, to press ntula fruit to make the seeds come out. okulasa akasolya, to bend the reeds of a roof to the frame (in building a house).
ndeeberedde) v.tr. urge, importune, press with persistence.
ndiise) v.tr. exact payment from; demand fulfillment of a commitment by; put pressure on. cf. obuliika, liwa.
erimu: ow'erimu, a person with one (eye, eriiso is implied), ow'erimu atemye ku w'abiri, the one with one eye has winked at the one with two (a common expression to signify that an event or incident is of great interest, surprising, fascinating, etc.).
ndozze) v.tr. tell, recount, narrate, okulojja omukwano, to declare/express one's love. Kye nnalaba mu ... ndi fa nkirojja. What I saw in ... I will remember as long as I live, lit. I will die recounting it. Amulojja temumala. He is really amazed at him (in either a good or bad sense). Buli omu alulojja bubwe. Everyone tells it/describes it from his own point of view (said when different people give different reports of the same incident).
adj. very long; very large, huge, ekiwandiiko lugogoma, a lengthy document, emmotoka lugogoma, a long, impressive looking car.
o- (lu/n) assembly, parliament; representative body; council; congress, olukiiko lw'abamawulire, press conference. cf. ^kiika, akakiiko.
and dialectal lumonge) (la) sweet potatoes, omunwe gwa lumonde, one/a single sweet potato. Zinsanze ezaasanga lumonde mu ttaka. I am extremely depressed/dejected/frustrated, cf. akamonde, nnammonde.
o- (Iu/n) (a) hair. plur. (the) hair. Ebyo byamuyita ku nviiri. These things passed over his head/made no impression on him at all. cf. ekiviiri.
o- (lu/n) ravine, valley, depression. cf. ekiwonko.
maama omuto, aunt, mother's sister, interj. expressing surprise or enthusiasm my goodness! gee! boy! Maama ng'olabye! Gee, I am sorry about what has happened to you! Note also that a mother may address her daughter as maama wange, my mother.
a- lit. in a manner expressing cessation of rebellion or opposition. Yaseka busesi majeemulukufu. He just laughed sheepishly (indicating that he had been bested), cf. jeema and its conv. jeemulukuka.
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.
a- adv. for the sake of appearances; as a bluff. Effumu akntte lya maseeneeko. He has taken a spear (in his hand) just to make an impression. He is holding a spear just as a bluff, cf. seeneeka.
a- plur. (li/ina) time of brewing beer; period of pressing bananas for the purpose of making mubisi(banana juice). cf. sogola.
namely. It is similar in function, to nti (q.v.) but implies doubt and unc ertainty. Yagamba nti alijja. He said that he would come. Yagamba mbu alijja. He said that he would come (but I am not at all sure that he will), as an adv. it would seem that, apparently, one might get the impression, they say. Mbu omubbi bamukutte. Apparently (I think, I have heard) they have caught the thief.
e- (n/n) described in previous dictionaries as: sternum, sternal cartilage; pit of the stomach; internal bodily part. It is now used almost always in a figurative sense: heart, soul, seat of the emotions. It occurs in hundreds of phrases and expressions of which the following is a sampling: mu ngeri ya kawanika mmeeme, in a frightening way. kwekuba mmeeme, to reconsider, emmeeme n'enfa, and my heart sank/I was utterly distressed. Nze emmeeme yangwa wala. I became very depressed. Otukubye wala emmeeme. You have really given us a scare. Emmeeme yamudda mu nteeko. He felt relieved, lit. his heart went back in place, ow'emmeeme etawaana amangu, one who is easily nauseated. Emmeeme entye- muse. 1 am terribly anxious/concerned/ shocked. Kino kyali ng'ekyawanula emmeeme ye. This seemed to relieve him/ calm him down. Emmeeme katale, ky'esiima ky'egula. (prov.) The heart is like going to market — it buys what it wants. Emmeeme gy'esula, ebigere gye bikeera. fprov.J Where the heart sleeps is where the feet- go in the morning, i.e., when you sleep with the intention of doing something, that is what you do. Emmeeme etefumba kigambo ekwo- geza munno ky'atagenda kwerabira. (prov.) lit. The heart which does not fashion well the spoken word makes you say what your friend will never forget. The spoken word can never be retracted.
o- (mu/mi) spirit, soul; temperament; mind; fig. heart, eby'omwoyo, spiritual matters, spiritual affairs. Mwoyo Mutuukiri- vu, the Holy Spirit, okusoma n'omwoyo ogumu, to read with care/carefully. Saalimu mwoyo. I was depressed/disspirited. Eki- tongole kijja kussaako omwoyo okufuna ente ennungi. The Department will do its best/ will make a great effort to get good cattle. Ekyo kyantwala omwoyo. I liked this best of all, lit. this took my heart, cf. ekyoyo, ekyoyooyo.
with (denoting instrument or association), adv. also, too. na is also regularly suffixed to -ii, is, are, io express possession. Alina ensimbi. He has money, na sometimes alternates with ne (q.v.). When na means with it is replaced by ne if the verb is positive. Genda ne Kapere. Go with K. Togenda na Kapere. Do not go with K. The disjunctive pronouns are regularly suffixed to na. nange, and I, I also, naawe (2nd. sing.), naye (3rd sing.), naffe (1st plur.), nammwe (2nd plur.), nabo (3rd plur.).
wear (shoes, rings, bracelets, etc.) Bakanaanise akaagala. They have put a bracelet (aka- komo is implied by -ka-) on one who wants it. The expression is used when a person is told to do what he wants to do or would do anvwav.
e- (n/n) pronunciation; way of uttering/expressing; with cap. the official prayer book of the Church of Uganda. cf. yatula.