Ndebele Body parts and Ndololwane Super Sounds

Salibonani bangane, as always, if you are new, please start with the posts at the bottom of the page and work your way up.
Kulungile, lamuhla sizakubona: the human body (umzimba) 

There is a song that goes : ikhanda, inhlombe, isifuba, idolo, amadolo, phansi, amadolo, phansi
which translates to the heads-shoulders-knees-and-toes song 
i.e. head, shoulders, chest, knee, knees, down, knees, down (respectively)

So we know:

ikhanda (the head)
Ihlombe/amahlombe (the shoulders)
isifuba (the chest)
amadolo (the knees)
phansi (down)

Khathesi (now), let's look at some other useful nouns.

Izinwele - Hair
Amehlo - eyes
Amadlebe/Izindlebe - ears
Amakhala - nose
Amafinyela - mucous
Izihlathi - cheeks
Umlomo - mouth
Izindebe - lips
Amazinyo - teeth
Izinsini - gums
Ulimi - tongue
Indevu/izindevu - beard(s)

Indololwane - elbow (there is a band called Ndololwane Super Sounds. I recommend a listen to some of their Ndebele songs e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GkslNjqC268&feature=fvwp or try this for tastes of their album http://www.simfy.co.za/artists/633701-Ndolwane-Super-Sounds/albums/1375824-Izambane-lika-pondo?locale=en)

Amazwane - toes
Umdidi - anus
Isandla - hand (palm)
Inhliziyo - heart
Isibindi - liver
Amathambo - bones
Impama - open hand slap
Ingalo - arm
Unyawo - foot (e.g. ibhola lenyawo - ball of the foot/ football)
Inqindi - fist
Inqondo - mind/ brain (thank you Mlondolozi Ndlovu)
ubuchopho - brain (thank you Mduduzi NKL)

Vuli' qondo, ngizakufake 'qindi - it has 2 "q" sharp clicks and means "open your mind or I will use my fists". Obviously not for polite company.

Ye, sizakubona kusasa bakhithi (Yeah, we'll see you tomorrow my people)

4 comments:

  1. 1.Ihlombe/amahlombe hatshi inhlombe.
    2. ingqondo hatshi iqondo.
    3. indevu/izindevu hatshi Mandevu.
    4. Kufanele ubehlukanisele amafinyela (flue); amakhovula (amhlotshana ajiyileyo) lenqofula(awomele emakhaleni)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The brain is actually "ubuchopho" while "ingqondo" is generally used to mean either "sense" or "mind".

    ReplyDelete

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