Pronoun

MEANING

PRONOUN, these,

PREFIX of class mu-ba.

Also relative PRONOUN those who…..

Sometimes aba stands alone as a DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN

Examples of use

1.  Aba bantu baabi, MEANING: These people are bad.

2.  Abakubifya kuti ulebakalipila, MEANING:  Those who wrong you, you must reprimand them.

3. Ni aba bene ama cadres ebacinguma! MEANING: These are the same cadres (already mentioned) who beat me!

 

PROVERBS

1. Aba kucisungilo, ebeela kale kale

Literal translation

Those found at the site where the fish poison is poured are the first to collect the stunned fish. Those downstream also collect stunned fish when the poison reaches them.

Meaning

Those around the president will be ones to benefit first from the goodies of the office. Once you hear about a new law, obey it as you cannot plead ignorance. Also, the early bird catches the worm.

Bemba Meaning

Balya babomba na kateeka, ebatampilapo ukulya ifisuma fisangwa ku musumba. Kabili abati nga waumfwa ifunde lipya, tampa apopene ukulikonka. Nakabili ati akabangile ekaumine ipulu.

 

2. Aba nsaka imbi tabapunsha bwalwa

Literal translation

Those from another men’s social hut cannot be depended upon to beat down your fermenting beer to prevent it from overflowing

Meaning

Do not rely on other people to do your work. Do not rely on other people’s resources

Bemba Meaning

Tacalinga kucetekela mufintu fyabene.

Similar proverbs

1. Insala ni ndiminwa, te mpulilwa

2.Abaima tabateba inkuni

Literal translation

Those who depart do not pick firewood for those left behind,

Meaning

Dead people do not come back.

Bemba Meaning

Umuntu uwalekwafwa nga afutata, ninshi capwa, ibombelefye we mwine. Abafwa tababwela, kabili teti batwafwa nakabili.

Similar proverb

Abaya tabateba inkuni

3.Abakana ku mulasa, nokuya ebayako

Literal translation

Those who refuse compulsory work for the chief are the ones who end up there doing the work.

Meaning

Obey the law or pay the price.

Bemba Meaning

Bampula mafunde balakakwa. Amafunde bapangila bonse. Nga wakwata imiya, nemisula yakukonka amafunde tawakekala mu cibote

Similar proverbs

Uwakaana ukuya ku mulasa nokuya euyako

6. Abalubululu bantu, inama tashilubulula

Literal translation

Only people give evidence in court, not animals.

Meaning

Do not treat people like animals; give them a chance to defend themselves

Bemba Meaning

Caliwama ukupela umuntu insambu yakulondololola nga camoneka kwati nalufyanya. Mwilakakila umunwe kumo nolubango

7. Abalya mumpa, ebeshiba ukununkila kwa mumpa

Literal translation

Only those who eat the mumpa caterpillars know how good they taste

Meaning

To appreciate a thing, one has to try it.

Bemba Meaning

Bane,pakusuminisha no kushininkisha ukutila icintu caliwama, kano naiwe wacimona, nangula wa cikatako, nangu wacifyompamo!

8. Abalya imbulu, balapalamana

Literal translation

Those who eat the monitor lizard must stay close together

Meaning

People who have the same interests stick or stay close together. Members of the same clan must stick together. Respect the custom of the people among whom you are staying, even if they appear weird to you.

Bemba Meaning

Abalembomba umulimo umo, nangu abacetekela mu cintu cimo ciine, balingile ukwampana. Kabili abati, ulecindika imibeele yabantu bambi. Umunofu we nsamba kuli bamo ulanunka saana. Nomba nga wasanga abantu baleulya, awe, iwe kwikalafye akatalamukila, waleka abene bailemena; ulifye shilili. Wiesha kusaka mate!

9. Abashiika umuntu, bantu

Literal translation

It’s people who bury people

Meaning

We all need and depend on one another. You cannot live by yourself without other people. No man is an island

Bemba Meaning

Abantu banensu ebatushika nga twashinga ilulu. Nomba nga waleita bonse ati nimbwa, awe, lintu ukakomboka, bakapukosafye nge mbwa ine! Nomba mukulondolola, panocalo, kwafwana kulenga ati twikale bwino. Balupwa, abanensu, limo nabena mupalamano, ebo tubombela nabo pamo, ukwafwana, nokwikatana, pakuti ubwikashi bwesu bulondoloke. Tulecindikana. Ebwana nyina.

10. Abekala mu mupundu, ebomfwa uko impundu shilepona.

Literal translation

Those who live under the mupundu tree are the ones who see the mupundu fruits falling.

Meaning

Those who live with a person know his/her ways; they have first-hand, eye witness information on him or her, and not hearsay!

Bemba Meaning

Abangala no muntu na beekela no muntu, ebengeshiba ciine-ciine ifyo ulya muntu aba. Ku ncitokuti umuntu aba ngo mungeli, kanshi ku ?anda apuma abakashi na baana cilabushiku! Nga waipusha ebeekala calo ifyo beekala, ebengakweba icishinka. Weushikala Ku Lukulu teti wishibe balya bantu efyo beekela. Kano waipusha abeneulya musumba, ati: Bane, nishani kuno ubuloshi?

Similar proverbs

1.Icipuna nga catiila, shikulu wasula, ninshi cacine

2.Uo washiika tabamuluba kuntambalilo

3. Abenda ebaleta amakasa yankalamo

 

11. Abenda ebaleta amakasa yankalamo  

Literal translation

Travelers are the ones who bring news of lions’ tracks.

Meaning

Believe those who are eye witnesses of event. In years yonder, information was by word of mouth. With modern technology things are radically different! People who tell you not to pass by the Universi