Verb intransitive

MEANING 1.

To return, come back, to reduce.

Example of use

1. Bushe nababwela ku ncito? MEANING: Have they come back from work.

2. Bukwe bwela maano MEANING If your brother in law says come back, listen to him

3. Bweleniko! MEANING: Greetings for those coming back from a journey, to answer: Endi mukwai!

4. Abantu baba mu kubwela, MEANING: The people are on their way back.

5. Abwela ku caimbwa (or abwela ku milimo ya cilindi), MEANING: He came back from the grave (or from the mouth of the grave), i.e. he or she nearly died.

6. Ulya mukalamba alibwela, MEANING: The old man or woman has gone back (to the earth) i.e. is bent, he or she will live long.

7. Umutengo wa nsalu naubwela, MEANING: The price of the cloth has returned to its former level.

MEANING 2

To be answered, of a letter.

Example of use

Kalata namulaishe talabwela, MEANING: The letter I sent him or her has not yet been answered.

MEANING 3

Not to see far.

Example of use

Pabe cungulo, ameenso yabwela, MEANING: It is evening, the eyes return i.e. cannot see far.

OTHER RELATED WORDS/USES/SOURCES/FUNCTIONS

PASSIVE: -Bwelelwa

APPLICATIVE: –Bwelela, to return to, return for.

Example of use

1. Bwelela ku mushi, MEANING: Go back to the village.

2. Apo wabwelela nshiku shapitapo shingi? MEANING: Many days passed since you returned?

3. Bwelela cinuma, MEANING: To return, walking backwards.

4. -Bwelelamo, MEANING: To return where one came from.

5. Nafyalo mwana nomba takokwele panonse, abwelelamo, MEANING: I gave birth to a child: he did not live long here: he or she returned to where he or she came from (he or she died).

6. Bwanga bwakwe bwamubwelela, MEANING: his or her spell returned against him or her.

FIGURATIVE SPEECH/IDIOMS/PHRASES/COLLOQUIAL USE/EXPRESSIONS

Kubwelela kunse ni munda ukubaba’ or (mulekalipa), LITERAL TRANSLATION To return into the bush is to satisfy nature’s wants. MEANING Said of one who returns to a fight to satisfy or give vent to his or her anger.

 

PROVERBS

PROVERB 1

Mupini ukulangile mwanakashi libwelelo

Literal translation

The axe handle that the woman pointed out to you, means that you have to go back for it.

Meaning

Do not be improvident. Never think ‘I will not need that’, or ‘such a thing will never happen).

Bemba meaning

Tabasula umuntu nangu abe shani. Limo abanakashi niba kaafwa ukucila abaume. Abanakashi nabo balikwata amaano.

 

 

PROVERB 2

Ku bwaice takubwelelwa.

Literal translation

One cannot return to youth.

Meaning

Time marches on and so one has to act before it is too late.

Bemba meaning

Umuntu afwile ukucita fyonse ifikabilwa lilya line acili namaka; nga akota ninshi caapwa acelwa.