them, bo, abo, ba, ba.
‘paddy' wagon, lit. they have sent me for you.
they are. Be babazzi. They are the carpenters.
e- always plur. (ki/bi) bowlegs, with the -a of rel. bowlegged. Wa bitege. He is bowlegged. Gye twakyadde baatufumbiddeyo enkoko, ekyemisana ne kigenda bitege. They cooked chicken for us where we went to visit, and it turned out to be a wonderful meal.
pers. pron. 3rd plur. they (for nouns of the mu/ba and la classes).
o- (bu/-) evil, wickedness; badness; inferiority; ugliness; excreta, as an adv. badly; poorly. Bamuli bubi. They have it in for him.
kukuba budinda, to know thoroughly, have down pat. Oluswayiri balukuba budinda. They know Swahili very well. cf. eddinda, amadinda.
be full of; surround, go all around, v.i. be or feel satisfied/contented. Baatugabula ffenna ne tuwulira nga tubugaanye. They entertained us and we felt contented.
adj. & pron. each; every; all; everyone, buli kiseera, all the time, always, buli kimu, everything, buli kyonna, everything. buli wonna, everywhere, buli wantu, everywhere, na buli kati, even now, up to the present time, buli gye bagenda, everywhere or wherever they go. buli lwe bagenda, every time or whenever they go. buli ayagala okujja, everyone or anyone who wishes to come.
etc. ne bitubulira ku matama, and we were at a loss for something to say, lit. they (ebigambo, words, implied) disappeared from our cheeks.
o- (bu/-) evenness, levelness, obutereevu bw'ennyanja, sea level, as adv. straight, directly, ne bagenda butereevu mu kisenge gye yali, and they went straight into the room where he was. ababaka abalonde obutereevu, representatives who are elected directly (by the people).
buulira and buuza. appear to be derivatives of the Same rout buul-. They are here treated separately, primarily for reasons of tradition and practicality. cf. ekibuuliriro, embuulira, omubuulirizi, omubuulizi, nnantabuulirirwa.
o- (bu/-) forehead; front. Baabadde mu bwenyi bwaffe. They were in front of us/ahead of us. kugwisa bwenyi, to compete/struggle doggedly; to reach a deadlock (in a conflict); to lock horns with (e.g., a strong competitor in a sport), cf. ekyenyi.
adjective or adverb, completely, thoroughly; really; very, extremely. Kirungi ddala. It is very good, ddala requires the applied form of the verb. Bakyamidde ddala. They have gone completely astray, cf. naddala.
e- plur. amaliba (li /ma) skin; hide; cover (of a book or magazine). Lugaba yabuggyako eddiba. [t dawned. Dawn came, lit. God took the skin/covering off of (day, daytime, implied by -bu- = obudde). okufuna ekigulira Magala eddiba, to make money, get some money, get something profitable. Bwe batusiba mu ddiba erimu tuliyuza. We just do not get along. We are mutually incompatible, lit. if they tie us in one skin we will tear it open (an almost hopeless feat), cf. ^akaliba, ekiriba.
etc.; do again, v.tr. take, take hold of, take up; come for, come and take, ne bataddira kulabagana nate, and they did not see each other again.
e- plur. amalookooli (li/ma) Adam's apple; goiter. Kaali kayisanyo malusu na ddookooli. They passed each other going in opposite directions.
consisting of the place formatives e- and wa. to, from or at the house/place of (similar to French chez). Nnenda ewa Mukasa. I am going to Mu- kasa's. Nva wa Mukasa gye banywa omwenge. I am coming from Mukasa's where they are drinking beer. With the possessive prefixes are derived the forms ewaffe (less commonly ewattu), at or to our place; ewammwe (rarely ewannyu), at or to your place, and ewaabwe, at or to their place. See also waaboffe, etc.
be bereaved of; lose; miss, miss out on. oku- fiirwa obulamu, to lose one's life. Leka kufiirwa mukisa guno. Don't miss this opportunity. Abaana bangi bafiirwako bannyaabwe nga bakyali mabujje. Many people lose their mothers while they are still small children.
legs); distribute widely. Tongaayuulirako mimwa! Don't give me any of your talk, lit. spread your lips to me! Bakigaayudde ng'enkoko eriibwa abantu omusanvu. (prov.) lit. They distributed it like the chicken which is eaten by seven people. (Said when the provisions of food or beer are insufficient for the guests). cf. olugaayu.
etc.; make indemnify, cause to pay compensation. Bangassa ssiringi lukumi oiw'okuvuga mmo- toka ekimama. They made me pay a thousand shilling fine for careless driving.
e-: kwemala ggoga, to do to one's heart's content, fully satisfy one's desires. Abaagala omwenge bajja kwemala eggoga. Those who like beer will have all they want, kwemalira ggoga ku muntu (or ku kintu), to take it out on somebody (or something).
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 ).
you (referring to one person), ggwe wamma and wamma ggwe are interjectional phrases of high- frequency which have no close English eauivalent. They are used when there is good rapport between speaker and hearer. Perhaps ‘I say!' is the nearest equivalent.
used with the subject prefix ka- and a personal object. Kalibajjuutuka. They will suffer the consequences.
a- (ka/bu) very small fly which resembles a mayfly. It is attracted to fruit, particularly bananas. Omukwano gubasaza mu kabu. (prov.) lit. Friendship causes them to cut into (i.e., to share even) a kabu. They are very close friends.
a- no plur. (ka/bu) privacy; private session, with the -a of rel. private. Bali mu kafubo. They are in private session.
a- (ka/bu) kind of wild plant/weed, kukooza kagiri (often with the subject ennaku), to cause to suffer greatly, lit. cause to pluck off kagiri. Yankooza kagiri. He made me suffer greatly. Ennaku y'ensi ebakooza kagiri. They are having very hard times.
a- (ka/bu) small load/bundle; trouble, danger; scandal in a family, shameful secret which a family wishes to be hushed up. Onsombedde akagugu. You have caused me trouble. Balina akagugu mu nju. They have a skeleton in their closet, cf. omugugu.
all right, certainly. Occasionally the forms mukale (2nd pers. plur.) and bakale (3rd pers. plur.) are used. Abo nabo oba te- baagala kulonda bakale. As far as they are concerned, if they don't want to make a choice it is all right.
a- (ka/bu) loose flesh adhering to a wound; hangnail; fig. edge; brink. Obulamu bwabwe bull ku kalebwerebwe. Their lives are in the balance. Bali ku kalebwerebwe k'okutandika emizannyo. They are on the point/verge of starting the games.
a- also akamunyi (ka/bu or la) kind of hawk, yellow-billed African kite. Ebikolimo bya wankoko tebitta kamunye. (prov.) The curses of Mr. Fowl do not kill the kite. Mere words are useless unless they can be backed up with force.
with all one's might. Omulimu guno bagukutte kannabwala. They have put their full effort into this task.
in rage, etc.); overwhelm; kill. Baamukanuliranga amaaso. They looked at him with wide-open eyes/in anger. Obusungu bwali bwagala kumukanula. Rage almost overwhelmed him. Okumubuuza ng'akanula maaso. On being questioned he could only stare vacantly. cf. -kanufu, obukanu, enkanu.
of the skin). Baagenze okuntuukako nga amaaso gankapye. By the time they reached me 1 was completely bewildered/confused.
a- (ka/bu) a kind of bean which resembles a lima bean but is much smaller, butter bean. Abantu ba kuno baamutwala teyeesibidde na kayindi. The people here sent him packing or (in a political context) they threw him out of office, lit. took him, he did not tie up beans for himself. (Formerly travelers used to take beans of this sort with them on long trips. The person referred to in the example left so quickly that he could not make the usual preparation.)
a- (ka/bu) bustle of activity, flurry, business. Baali mu kaebugo. They were very busy/in a bustle of activity. cf. buga, -ebuga.
food, money, wages). Abakozi babakena emisaala. They give the workers very poor wages, cf. -kene.
e- (ki/bi) moment; space, interval, distance; shed in which bricks are made. Olumbe lumubuusa ebibanda. He is seriously ill. Bamubuusizza ebibanda. They are chasing him.
e- (ki/bi) darkness; secrecy. 05 an adv. at an unusually late hour. Buli bye bakola babikolera eyo mu kibundugulu nze tebambuulira. Everything they do, they do in secrecy (or darkness) and don't tell me about it.
cf. fuutiika.
serve as a representative for fan administrative unit in a country), ebitundu bye bakiikirira, the sections which they represent.
e- (ki/bi) celebration; festival; jubilee; party; rejoicing, exultation. Bampi- se ku kijaguzo kyabwe eky'emyaka 25 mu bufumbo. They have invited me to their 25th wedding anniversary celebratiob. c/. j aguza.
e- (ki/bi) large bracelet. Bambadde ebinyere mu matu. They are wearing earrings. cf. akanyere.
e- (ki/bi) drinking party; friendship; bond (between individuals), okulya ekinywi, to make a common cause. Ba kinywi kimu. They are close friends, cf. nywa.
e- (ki/bi) something useful/worthwhile/vital. Tewali kiramu kye baateesa. There is nothing vital which they discussed. cf. -lamu.
e- (ki/bi) tramping of feet; rush of a crowd; abundance, as an adv. in a crowd. Bagenze kirinnimuko. They have all gone in a group/crowd, cf. linnimuka.
e- (ki/bi) large plaited basket. Entongooli y'emu ku bivuga bye bayita ebizibu okukuba, naye abaana baffe abo bayisa mukka mu kisero. The entongooli is one of the instruments which is described as difficult to play, but our children play it without any trouble at all, lit. they pass air through the basket.
e- (ki/bi) dormitory; place of stay, ekisulo ky'abagenyi, hostel, lodging place. Baatambula olugendo lwa bisulo bibiri. They made a trip which required stopovers for two nights, cf. sula.
e- adv. breathing one's last, on the point of death. Baamulaba ng'asigad- deko kiyiriitira. They found him unconscious/almost dead. cf. yiriitira.
e- (li/ma) large frog. (Awantu) awampi waalema ekkere okubuuka. (prov.) A short distance proved too much for the big frog to jump. Beware, you may be beaten by a trifle. (Asht.) Basammula ekkere ng'amazzi banywa. They splash away the big ugly frog but drink the water (it has been in). (Said o f hypocrites.) cf. ekikere.
e- (li/ma) lump; clump; mass; large pill/tablet. Emboozi yagwa amakerenda. They (or we) had a long and pleasant conversation. Kkerenda liva ku lubaya. (prov.) lit. The lump comes fnom the large packet. Like father, like son. cf. akakerenda.
cram, pack; pile. Ensawo bagikoomekeddemu ppamba. They have stuffed the bag with cotton.
to make a fire; to blow on a fire to keep it going. Ennyonyi baagikumyemu omuliro n'esimbula. They started the airplane and it took off.
etc. Baagezaako okumukumbira. They tried to court/woo her. cf. omukumbi; kulukumba.
uproot; pull up; pull out. kukuulawo muntu, to beat out/ excel over (an opponent, competitor). Bwe nnaakukwatako engalo, banaakunkuulako bukuuzi. If I get my hands on you, they will have to drag me away.
be taken in/for, etc. okukwatirwa ensonyi, to feel shame for. Baamukwatirwa ekisa. They felt sorry for him/her.
e- with the -a of rel. self-sown; wild (of plants). Emmere eno baagisanga mu bibira kuba ya kyemeza. They found this (type of) food in the forests (growing) wild. cf. mera.
e- (ki/bi) the top bananas on a bunch. They are often much larger than the rest and ripen first.
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.
to showoff, put oneself in the limelight. Laba erikuleese. Go away. Get out of here, lit. See (the road, ekkubo is implied by eri-) which brought you. Gundi oyo talaba! So-and-so is very proud/putting on airs. Ng'olabye. I am sorry for you now. I sympathize with you. Nkukubye nga ndaba. I have hit you on purpose/intentionally. Obalaba. Say hello to them for us. En- nyumba yaabwe eraba buvanjuba. Their house faces east. Bwali tebunnalaba. It was before dawn (bu- implies obudde). Ndaba ku ki? lit. What do I see? (A friendly greeting to a guest, particularly an unexpected one). Bo bakola nga bwe balabye. They do just as they please, mu kulaba kwange, in my view, according to the way 1 see it. Tandabamu kantu. He despises me/ has no respect for me. Onookiraba. You will be sorry. You will find out, lit. you will see it.
nnambise) v.i. go straight ahead, v.tr. stretch out, lay out straight; keep/bold straight. Omusota baagusse ne bagulambika mu kkubo. They killed the snake and stretched it out in the road, okulambika ebigambo, to state matters as they are, set matters straight.
nnamudde) v.tr. judge; arbitrate; set a price (on the part of the seller). Bwe bagenda okukola kawungeezi y'alamula. When they go to work they do not come home until evening.
lekesa (-iekesezza) v.tr. caus. 1 & 2 cause to leave/let, etc. Omubbi baamulesa emmundu. They caused the thief to leave the gun behind. Tulekese! Leave us alone!
nnonze) v.tr. gather up, pick up; pick out; select, choose; elect; describe completely. Kuno si kutta kulonda. This is a great bargain, lit. it is not killing (a game CtTtl TTl al) but merely picking it up (from the ground), okulonda mu bangi, lit. to select from among many, to choose (a wife). Baabu)onda. They had a fight or They went running after each other, lit. picked up the footsteps (abuwuufu is implied by -bu-). Ekibiina kyakubidde waggulu mu kulonda. The party won an overwhelming victory in the elections.
o- plur. emba (lu/n) jaw. abantu abatakyalina we bassa luba, people who no longer have any place to sleep/anywhere to take refuge, lit. where they put the j aw. olvuluiuu cmbu, to "lit thD ^eeth embabbaiala.
0- (lu/n) Luganda, the language of Buganda; without caps, brotherhood; relationship. ow'oluganda, relative, relation; member of a brotherhood, amawanga agali mu luganda olumu ne Bungereza, the British Commonwealth, plur. ejinanda, relations, relatives. Ab'oluganda bita, bikonagana ne bitayatika. (prov.) Relatives are like calabashes, they knock together but do not break. Blood is thicker than water, cf. Obuganda, Omuganda, sseruganda.
o- (lu/n) long foot, okusikambula engere, also okusaawa engere, to walk fast. Baamulonda engere, they followed him/tailed him. cf. ekigere.
o- adv. all, all together, in a group, one and all. Baagenda luliri. They all went together.
o- (lu/n) smoldering embers; burning charcoal mixed with ash, used for keeping food warm. Baamuyiwako olunyata. They excoriated him. They rebuked him unmercifully.