Verb transitive and intransitive.

MEANING 1

To hear, listen, understand, take notice, listen to advice.

Example of use

1.     Umfwa nkwebe ifyo natesha MEANING: Listen that I may tell you what I heard.

2.     Tomfwa MEANING: He does not listen.

3.     Ulya alomfwa MEANING: That one listens he is docile.

4.     Waumfwa? MEANING: Have you understood?

5. Tumfwe! MEANING keep quite and listen!

6. Umfweni MEANING You listen

7. Umfweni! MEANING Listen to that nonsense

MEANING 2

To feel, taste, perceive, realise.

Example of use

   Icikalipa cumfwa umwine MEANING: What hurts, he who feels it knows.

Umfwa ifyo kalundwe alulile MEANING Taste how bitter the cassava is

OTHER RELATED WORD/USES/FUNCTIONS

INTENSIVE: Umfwisha

REFLEXIVE: Yumfwa    

Example of use

Ndeyumfwa amaka, nciliko MEANING: I feel strong, I am still here

Apo aashitila ka jalo, alayumfwa sana MEANING Ever since he bought a car,

 he has become boastful

REFLEXIVE: Yumfwila MEANING: To hear with one’s own ear.

Wa yumfwila we mwine, ulya takakuupe MEANING You heard with your own ears, that one will never marry you.

APPLICATIVE: Umfwila

Example of use

Emo umwine aumfwila MEANING: That is the interpretation of what he has heard.

Twalemumfwila ukutali MEANING: We used to hear about him when he was still away.

FIGURATIVESPEECH/IDIOMS/PHASES/COLLOQUIAL USE/EXPRESSIONS

Umfwa mu meenso MEANING Stare absentmindedly, without hearing

Icumfwa matwi, ameenso tayomfwa LITERAL TRANSLATION The ears hear, not the eyes MEANING Them staring does not mean they heard the message, let them confirm that they heard

PROVERBS 

PROVERB 1

Uushumfwa ku bakulu, aile ubwamba ku mako.

Literal translation

The person who paid no attention to the elders went naked to his mother-in-law.

Meaning

If you cannot be controlled you will be embarrassed.  When you pay attention to what the elders are saying you will be respected well.

Bemba Meaning

Nga taupingulwa ukasebana.  Nga wanakila abakulu ukacindikwa.  Ukuicefya kusuma.

 Similar proverb

Munshumfwa ku bakulu aile na mafi ku bako

PROVERB 2

Tufunda bamunjili, ba mungulube bomfwa mu meenso. 

Literal translation

We teach the warthog, the bushpig hears with his eyes

Meaning

Even if you're an orphan, learn from what the parents of friends are teaching their children by observation.

Bemba Meaning

Umwana wa maano omfwa kufyo abakalamba balefunda abanankwe. Witiila, iyoo, ino kano tata nangu yama eo ningofwako, awe.