Amabelejongosi -
- (noun)
- Is a type of orchid known as Polystachya ottoniana. It is used in traditional medicine to treat teething babies and diarrhoea and to make a love potion, intelezi, and snuff to produce a hallucinogenic effect.
Amabheka -
- (plural) (noun)
- Bride price.
- Lobola cattle that the fiancé family present to the fiancée family during lobola negotiation. In the past, cows were used to pay lobola. Nowadays, money and real estate are used.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Bebaphuza amanzi amponjwana” In English - “They were drinking alcohol”
- Synonyms: lobola, bride price
Amabutho -
- (plural) (noun)
- Refers to warriors.
Amaculo -
- (plural) (noun)
- Iculo (singular) (noun)
- Songs.
- Are pieces of music that are sang.
- Melody.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Amaculo ase wesile” In English - “The songs by the Methodist church”
- English synonyms: songs; melody
Amadlozi -
- (plural) (noun)
- Indlozi (singular) (noun)
- Ancestral spirits.
- Ancestors.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Amadlozi asasibhekile” In English - “The ancestors are still with us”
- Synonyms: ancestors; abalele; abaphansi
Amadumbe -
- (plural) (noun)
- Idumbe (singular) (noun)
- The common name of a plant that is scientifically known as Colocasia esculenta.
- Are potato-like vegetables full of nutrients and vitamins.
- A staple food in South Africa and many parts of Africa, such as Nigeria where they are known as yams.
- Also known as the taro roots.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Sidla amadumbe nobhontshisi” In English - “We eat the taro root with beans”
- Synonyms: yams, gabi, taro roots, Colocasia esculenta
Amafinyela -
-
- (plural) (noun)
- ifinyela (singular) (noun)
- Mucus (a slippery fluid) produced by the nose.
Amafufunyane -
- (plural) (noun)
- Ufufunyane (singular) (noun)
- Spirit possession that is attributed to sorcery.
- The term describe different kinds of illnesses that are caused by spirit possession.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Indodana yakhe inamafufunyane” In English - “His son is possessed by a spirit”
- English synonym: spirit possession
Amafutha -
- (plural) (noun)
- Ifutha (singular) (noun)
- Fats.
- Oils.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Amafutha amaningi” In English - “Too much fat”
- English synonym: fats; oils
Amafutha engwenya -
- (noun)
- Refers to crocodile oil that is extracted from fat cells (or fatty tissue). The oil has high economical, cosmeceutical, and medicinal value.
Amafuthomhlaba -
- (noun)
- Is a perennial herb scientifically known as Callilepis laureola. This plant's underground stem is considered poisonous. In traditional medicine, it is used to treat the 100-day cough, tapeworm infections, poisonous snake bites, and maggots in cows. It is also used to make uterotonics known as inembe and isihlambezo.
Amagama -
- (plural) (noun)
- Igama (singular) (noun)
- Words.
- Words that someone or something is addressed by.
- Names.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Amagama abo made” In English - “Their names are long”
- English synonyms: names, words
Amagobongo -
- (plural) (noun)
- Ugobongo (singular) (noun)
- Is a traditional ritual that is carried out by sacrificing an animal in order to appease the ancestors. The ritual is typically carried out when a person is training to be a sangoma. The ritual also involves the use of Zulu herbs that are stored in a calabash.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Kudingeka amagobongo ukwelapha imimoya” In English - “Amagobongo are required to cure ancestral spirits”
- Synonym: ukushweleza
Amagundwane -
- (plural) (noun)
- Igundwane (singular) (noun)
- Rats.
- Are gnawing mammals with a medium-sized bodies and long tails.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Amagundwane ase-Tembisa abizwa ngama-venture” In English - “The rats in Tembisa are known as ventures”
- English synonym: rats
Amahewu -
- (plural) (noun)
- Mageu.
- Is a non-alcoholic African traditional drink made by fermenting mealie meal (or maize meal).
- Example: in isiZulu - “Amahewu afana nomdoko” In English - “Mageu is similar to soft porridge”
- English synonym: Mageu
Amahiyoyo -
- (noun)
- Boiled fresh mielies and fresh beans.
- Umhululu
Amahlaba -
- (plural) (noun)
- Ihlaba (singular) (noun)
- Are sharp pains occurring in the body. This pain can occur in any part of the body.
- Example: in isiZulu - “Ingane iphethwe amahlaba” In English - “The child suffers from body pains”
- English synonym: body pains
Amahlambulule -
-
- (noun)
- To excrete.
- Refers to a relief that comes from drinking water with a few grains of coarse salt to alleviate a constipation caused by overeating.
Amahlinzelo -
- (plural) (noun)
- Are small pieces of meat given as a sign of appreciation to people who skinned and butchered an animal.
Amajikantamo -
-
- (noun)
- Is a condition or illness of the neck that stems from twisting of the neck.