Zulu Idioms & Their Meanings

Ukubeka itshe esiswini

Literally: “To place a stone in the stomach”

Meaning: To restrain oneself, endure hardship patiently, or steel oneself against hunger or grief.

Ukudla umuntu ngamehlo

Literally: “To eat a person with the eyes”

Meaning: To stare at or covet someone intensely; to look at someone with strong desire.

Ukufa ngendlala

Literally: “To die of hunger”

Meaning: To be extremely hungry or destitute.

Ukukhuluma uphethe

Literally: “To speak while holding (in the hand)”

Meaning: To speak with proof or evidence in hand; to make a claim you can back up.

Ukubamba ongezansi

Literally: “To grab the lower one”

Meaning: To take to one's heels, to flee hurriedly. Used of someone who runs away from a confrontation or danger.

Ukugcina umuntu enhliziyweni

Literally: “To keep a person in the heart”

Meaning: To keep/cherish someone in one's heart — to hold a person dear in memory and affection. The 'holding a grudge' reading is not part of this idiom.

Ukubona ngomopho

Literally: “To see by the spurting blood”

Meaning: To realise one's mistake only after suffering the painful consequences.

Ukubamba iqhaza

Literally: “To hold/take a part”

Meaning: To participate in or contribute to something.

Ukufaka umlomo

Literally: “To put in the mouth”

Meaning: To interfere or intervene in a matter by speaking; to put in a word.

Ukuvula isandla

Literally: “To open the hand”

Meaning: To be open-handed and give generously; to part with money or help freely.

Ukulala ngenxeba

Literally: “To sleep on the wound”

Meaning: To lie/sleep on the side of one's wound — i.e. to have no peace, to be unable to rest because of worry, grief, or a troubling matter pressing on one.