noun

singular: akafumbe

Plural - utufumbe

MEANING 1.

A plant having a bitter taste, used as relish.

EXAMPLE OF USE

Atwipikiile kafumbe wa musalu.MEANING She has cooked plant leaves that are bitter for relish. (kafumbe).

MEANING 2:

A small rat.

EXAMPLE OF USE

Ipaya akafumbe. MEANING kill a small rat.

 

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

Used to a bad-tempered person who is hated for his behavior and  When he is seen fighting all start nagging him with the following rigmarole:

‘Kafumbe niwe upala, lelo pala pali musaasa. MEANING Go on, ‘kafumbe’, you who boast of being courageous, you’ve found a more bitter one today.

PROVERBS:

Akafumbe, kantu kali pa bwali.

  LITERAL TRANSLATION: The small rat (relish) worth having is the one on your nshima.

MEANING: A bird in hand is worth two in the bush; don’t despise what you have in the hope that you will get something better.

  BEMBA MEANING: Icintu ico ukwete ecintu, ecakubikishako amano ukucila paco wakwete kale atemwa ico ushilakwata nangu icikwete umubiyo atemwa ico ulesuubila ukukwata.

Similar Proverbs

 

1. Akanani kantu kali pa bwali

2. Akamuti ukweete eko bominako imbwa

PROVERB 2

Akafumbe ukunona, katula kubwaice.

  LITERAL TRANSLATION: To find the bitter ‘Kafumbe’ plant tasty, you must be used to it from childhood.

MEANING: Good habits are acquired more easily early in life.

BEAMBA TRANSLATION: Umwana bamutampa ukumufunda acili fye akanya.  Imisango yonse twima fye nayo.

Similar proverbs

1. Limbula insansa talilakwata mishila.

2. Bingila mulamba talatulwila