Noun

Singular: insofu

Plural: insofu

MEANING.

Elephant.

SYNONYM/SIMILAR WORD/COMPARE/CONTRAST.

Nansofu, MEANING: Cow-elephant

OTHER RELATED WORDS/USES/SOURCES/FUNCTIONS.

COMPARE: Nkungulu, tondo, cipembe, cibulumonwansofu.

FIGURATIVE SPEECH/IDIOMS/PHRASES/COLLOQUIAL USE/EXPRESSIONS.

Nil.

PROVERBS.

PROVERBS 1. 

Icanyanta nsofu, calaala.

Literal translation. Whatever an elephant stamps on stays flattened.

Meaning. Decisions of elders, judges are not to be disputed.

Bemba Meaning. Abakalamba nga bapingula ninshi capwa. Umulandu ngawapita mucilye ninshi capwa.

PROVERBS 2.

 Icipuba cipaye nsofu, impanda shaisa binga.

Literal translation. The fool killed the elephant but the wise man came and took over.

Meaning: Do not underestimate anybody. Those you consider fools can be your savior in future.

Bemba Meaning

Uwa suulwa kuti acita icintu icakuti na bamaano baapusukilamo. Tacalinga ukusuulililafye umuntu munenu.

PROVERB 3

 

Ubushiku bumo tabuboshansofu.

Literal translation

A single day does not makeelephant meat rot.

Meaning

One day away from work willnot ruin it. Rome wasn't built in a day

Bemba Meaning

Ekutiila ubushiku bumo ngawatuusha teeti bonaule milimo, kuti wabombe limbi. Ekutiila natushipikisheubushiku bumo tee mulandu.

 

PROVERB 4

Ukukomene nsofu: kuliulububa

Literal translation

Where an elephant playsabout, there is a thick undergrowth.

Meaning

A man will settle where hecan make a living

Bemba Meaning

Apali umunwee pali ibala. Apashintukaamenshi pali ing’wena. Uluni lulipo pali ulupako. Umuntu uko atemwisha ukwangalilaninshi alemonaka bwino.

 

 

PROVERB 5

 

Ukupangile nsofu, kano uline fumo

Literal translation

To be able to threaten anelephant you must have a spear

Meaning

When starting a task makesure that you have the means to finish it

Bemba Meaning

E pamo na mukome mukome ni ku kasembe.

 

PROVERB 6

 

Ulemfuta leelo line bamupeelenkoko; apembela nga bamupeele nsofu.

Literal translation

The person who insisted onbeing compensated straight away received a chicken; if he had waited, he wouldhave received an elephant.

Meaning

Patience and kindness bringtheir own reward

Bemba Meaning

Ukusenda ifintu lubilolubilo takwawama. Pa fintu ifili nga imilandu balatekanya. Mukwangufyanya kutimwacitikila ifibi ukucilapo

 

 

PROVERB 7

 

Akapunda bapita bacimbwi, bansofu kuselebenda.

Literal translation

The hole that the hyena passesthrough the elephant strides over without fear.

Meaning

Elders can do things thatfrighten youngsters

Bemba Meaning

Abaice kuti bafilwa icintuabakalamba bayangalapofye. Umwaice nangu acenjele tekuti acile abakalamba.

 

PROVERB 8

 

Fundi wa nsofu afwa ku nsofu.

Literal translation

The elephant hunter waskilled by an elephant.

Meaning

Each occupation and hobbyhas its own particular dangers

Literal translation

Kwati kutila 'akafupautemenwe ekakusha umucene'. Uko wangala ekukafuma necikakulya. Nga uli mupuupuukafwila mu bupuupu.

 

PROVERB 9

 

Kalulu atumine nsofu: nimpeniko ako.

Literal translation

The hare sent the elephanton an errand: please give me that.

Meaning

A polite expression used bychildren when sent on a message

Bemba Meaning

Munshita shimo-shimoumwaice kuti aatuma umukalamba nangu abakalamba ebaaba nokutuma abaice.

 

PROVERB 10

 

Kapoose nsofu, ba nokolumebali kuntanshi.

Literal translation

Go and sell the elephant,your uncle is just in front of you.

Meaning

You can afford to befoolhardy if your protector is close by

Bemba Meaning

Ekutampa ukucita icintuicakakala pamo ngo lubuli ico wishibe abakukupokako/ukukwafwa bali mupeepi.

 

PROVERB 11

 

Munda nimwisano, mulaalainsoka atemwa insofu.

Literal translation

The womb is like a chief'splace; there lies either a snake or an elephant.

Meaning

You never know how anunborn child will develop, whether they will turn out to be dangerous or not

Bemba Meaning

Mwifumo limo mufuma abaanabapusanapusana; abawelewele ne mpanda; ababi na basuma. 'Munda ni mu cabu'

 

PROVERB 12

 

Nansofu pa mwana taya.

Literal translation

The mother elephant neverleaves its child.

Meaning

Nangombe...

Bemba Meaning

Umufyashi wa mwana teetialekefye bamupoke umwana awe kuti afwilapo. Icitemwiko cabana kubafyashicalicila pali fyonse.

 

PROVERB 12

 

Nsofu nkulu taikuba mwishimba.

Literal translation

The foot of the bigelephant never stops yielding fat.

Meaning

A wealthy person always hassomething left even when he is impoverished.

Bemba Meaning

Ilingi abakalambabalasungilila utuntu pa kukaanapelelwa ilyo balefwaya ukubomfya. No tulyo twinetabalilila

 

PROVERB 13

 

Nsofu yalikulile: bwaicebwashele mwishimba.

Literal translation

The elephant grew old butremained a little child in the foot

Meaning

However mature andrespected a person maybe he remains subject to the defects of his qualities

Bemba Meaning

Inkulilo ya muntu taishaumusango waiko nelyo akule shani. Kalashala akamusango ka ku bwaice.