Tinyenyana ta tilo - Birds

Xitsonga	English
Gama	Eagle
Gumba	White stork
N'hwari	Partridge
Rikhozana (Rikhozi)	Falcon, Hawk
Vukuvuku (ukuuku)	Cape raven
Xikunguva	Black crow

Sources:
- Tiyisela Mpuzana (Xitsonga)
- Tsonga-English Dictionary (English)

Images: Internet

Maxelo - Weather

Xitsonga	IsiZulu	English
Switsutsusu	Ukukhemezela	Drizzle
Xihangu	Isichotho	Hail
Gamboko	Iqhwa elikhitikile	Snow
Kungwa	Inkungu	Mist
Mberha	Amazolo	Dew
Hunguva	Inkungu	Fog
Dyandza	Uhlaka	Drought
Moya	Umoya	Wind
Xihuhuri	Umoya omatasa	Whirlwind
Rimoyana/Mheho	Umoya ohelezayo	Breeze
Mpfula	Imvula	Rain
Ndhambi	Isikhukhula	Flood
Bubutsa	Isiphepho	Storm
Xidzedze	Isishingishane	Hurricane/Cyclone

Sources:
- Nobuhle Kunene (Isizulu)

Shona vs Tsonga vs English

Shona	Tsonga	English
Kuchata	Ku cata/chada/chata	To marry
Kuchema	Ku cema	To wail
Kuchera	Ku cela	To dig
Kucheka	Ku xeka	To cut
Kudherera	Ku delela	To be insubordinate
Kudya	Ku dya	To eat
Kuenda	Ku endza	To go on a trip
Kufa	Ku fa	To die
Kufanana	Ku fana/ ku fanana	To be alike
Kufamba	Ku famba	To walk
Kugocha	Ku oxa	To roast
Kugera	Ku kera	To cut hair
Kuimba	Ku yimbelela	To sing
Kukara	Ku kala	To be scarce
Kukotama	Ku korhama	To bend
Kukura	Ku kula	To grow in age
Kunanaira	Ku nanayila	To be slow
Kunyanya	Ku nyana	To overdo
Kuoma	Ku oma	To be dry
Kuonda	Ku ondza	To be slim
Kupenga	Ku penga	To be MAD
Kupfuma	Ku fuma	To be rich
Kururama	Ku lulama	To be upright
Kurima	Ku rima	To plough
Kureva	Ku leva	To be provocative
Kuringana	Ku ringana	Be equal/fitting
Kuroya	Ku loya	To bewitch
Kuruma	Ku luma	To bite
Kurwa	Ku lwa	To fight
Kusara	Ku sala	To stay
Kusunga	Ku sunga	To tie
Kushuva	Ku xuva	To miss someone
Kutakura	Ku tlakula	To carry/pick
Kutumbuka	Ku rhumbuka	To blossom
Kuva	Ku va	To be
Kuvenga	Ku venga	To hate
Kuwa	Ku wa	To fall
Kuwisa	Ku wisa	To drop
Kuwuya	Ku vuya	To come back

- Teleti Khosa
28 April 2014

Xirhami xi vuyisa na n'wana evukatini

Literal: Chillness causes a daughter to come back to her parents' house from her husband's house.

Figurative: It is very cold.

Mhuti yi biwa ya ha ri na mahika

Literal: An antelope is hit while it sighs.

Figurative: Act swiftly.

Xihlovo xa le mahlweni madlayisa torha

Literal: The well in the distance will make you suffer from thirst.

Figurative: You never know what the future holds.

U nga sahi nsinya hi vuxika, u ta tshwa hi mumu hi malanga

Literal: Do not cut the tree in winter, you will burn by sun in summer.

Figurative: Do not mess up things when you do not need them, you will suffer when you need them.

Xihlovo a xi dungiwi loko u heta ku nwa mati

Literal: Do not stir the well after drinking from it.

Figurative: Do not mess up things after using them, you might need them tomorrow.

Tinhlanga ta le ndzhaku ti tiviwa hi mutlhaveri wa tona

Literal: The tattooing marks made on the back are known by the tattooer (not by the tattooed).

Figurative: You do not know what may happen when you have turned your back.

U nga hlawuli nkuku wa mhangele

Literal: One must not choose the male of the guinea-fowl (similar to "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched").

Figurative: This proverb is said to a young husband who might be tempted to prepare something for their babies before their birth, since you do not know if the baby is a male or female.

Ku banana hi rhanga ro hisa

Literal: To hit each other with a hot 'pumpkin'

Figurative: To accuse each other.

Ku banana hi rhambu ra mfenhe

Literal: To hit each other with a baboon's bone.

Figurative: To exchange gifts with relatives only or to only help your immediate family.

Ku ba ndlopfu hi xibakele

Literal: To punch an elephant.

Figurative: To make a very slight impression or an insignificant act.

Loko u tsundzuka mhelembe khandziya murhi/nsinya

Literal: When a rhino occurs to you, climb a tree.

Figurative: When you foresee danger, act instantly.

Mutlhontlhi wa tinyarhi ti vuya hi yena

Literal: He who pokes buffaloes invites them onto him.

Figurative: He who provokes other people, will face the consequences.

Ximita ntsengele xi tshemba nkolo

Literal: He who swallows a large stone has confidence in the size of his throat

Figurative: When you start something you must have power (courage) to complete it.

N'wana u tseme mubya

Figurative: A disobedient child.

Ku tshwa nomo

Literal: To have a burnt mouth.

Figurative: Referring to someone who constantly lies.

A ndzi ku hi laha ku nga na mpfula ku sala ndzhongo

Literal: I thought it is where the rain has poured and left fertile soil.

Figurative: I thought it was good things.

Vuhosi a byi peli nambu

Literal: Chiefdom does not cross the river.

Figurative: Chiefdom stays in the same family, cannot be passed to other families.