apa
Adjective
MEANING1
Where
Exampleof use
Mutalebamulanga apa kwikala,MEANING: They have shown Mutale where to stay.
MEANING2
Here
Exampleof use
Kunda,iminina apa MEANING: Kunda,stand here
MEANING2
Indicating extent of will or strength
Exampleos use
Abombaapapelele amaka, MEANING: He or sheworks to the full extent of his or her strength.
MEANING3
If, in conditional sentence
Exampleof use
Apabaifi, MEANING: If it had beenlike this….
MEANING4
Without reason
Exampleof use
Iweumanya abantu apa fye,MEANING: You rebuke people without reason.
PROVERBS
1. Apa kuuma ukuboko pabula
Literaltranslation
There is no place to knock on.
Meaning
The situation is bad; I do not know what to do. I havenowhere else to seek help.
BembaMeaning
Amaka namaano yapela. Nshishibe uungantuula.
2. Apabilimina (orapabilima) umulilo tapacepa
Literaltranslation
The place where a fire erupts is never too small. A blazingfire is not too small.
Meaning
Do not overlook a danger sign. A few careless words can leadto a fatality
BembaMeaning
Umulilotaucepa. Akantu akanoono kuti kakula kaleeta ubwafya kuntnshi. Kanshi kucenjelanapatunoono. Utumashifye utunoono kuti twaimya ulubuli!
3. Apabolele Bunde, ne micila ya kwa Bunde
Literaltranslation
Where the ancestors died, there too died his tails.
Meaning
Never forget your family roots and the long held cultures andtraditions of your ancestors. When your parents have difficulties, do notabandom them.
BembaMeaning
Mulesungaintambi sha calo. Kabili abati, nga abakoloci bapalupwa bakwata ubwafya,kubaafwa; mwibataluka.
Similarproverb
Apo taata afwila epo naifwe tukafwila
4. Apafume mpanda, palatambwa
Literaltranslation
People always stare at the place a respected person camefrom.
Meaning
A respected person is always looked up to and must give agood example. One can know the wise and intelligent by the way they behave
BembaMeaning
Abantubalomfwila nokukonka umuntu uwamaano. Abantu bamusango uyu baleshibikilwa ku mibeele yabo.
5. ApafwilaShimuundu, no muundu wakwe
Literaltranslation
When a person disappears in the forest, his possessionsdisappear ith him.
Meaning
When a rich man dies, often his wealth disappears with him;when a wise man dies, often his wisdom goes with him. When a trickster dies,often his trickery goes with him.
BembaMeaning
Umukankaalanga afwa, ilingi nefyuma fyakwe filaloba. Kalapashi nga akomboka, ilingi nabukalapashi bwakwe bulaloba. Pompwe nga afwa, afwa na bu pompwe bwakwe, takubamupyani.
6. Apaikala impalume, tapalubika
Literaltranslation
You cannot miss where a great person lives.
Meaning
There are people one cannot forget. For instance, one cannotforget someone who saved your life.
BembaMeaning
Ifintufimbi, nangu abantu bambi, tabalabwa. Bushe kwena kuti walaba uwakupuswishe umweo?Awe nakalya, ninshi uli mwana wa ndoshi.
7. Apakomalila inondo, ninshi pali ubulema
Literaltranslation
Where the hammer strikes repeatedly, there must be a flaw
Meaning
If someone is always complaining about you, or aboutsomething, there must be a problem. There is no smoke without fire.
BembaMeaning
Icoumuntu alekalipapo libili-libili ninshi namona ukutiila pali ubwafya.
Similar proverb
1. Lufwinyembaaliwa pa kantu
2.Menshi mutapwatapwafye, mulilomulapwilwa pakantu
8. Apalefuka icushi, pali umulilo
Literaltranslation
There’s no smoke without fire.
Meaning
If there is a strong rumour then someone started it and theremay be some truth to it
BembaMeaning
Ilingiifilanda abantu pabanabo tefyakutunganyafye iyoo. Kabili nga ulwambo lwapita mumushi ninshi pali uwalwambile; ulwambo taluitampafye lweka
9. Apali abakulu, insengo tashipotama (nangu tashipotaana)
Literaltranslation
Where there are elders, horns of animals do not get entangled
Meaning
If there is a problem and elders are consulted, a way out ofthat difficulty can be found.
BembaMeaning
Apaliabakalamba, ubwafya bwa muntu kuti bwaololoka; umulandu teti utantalile
Similarproverb
1. Umuliloucingile abakalamba, taoca
2. Icinama cikwishibe tacikulya acikupwishishisha
3. Mulinso ontela akasuba pabakalamba
10. Apali icikote,epali icipya
Literaltranslation
Where there is something old, there is something new
Meaning
There isnothing new under the sun, just cycles of new over old, Also, the need forsomething old to be replaced will make one work for a new thing. Needs willlead to work to replace old things. So life goes on.
BembaMeaning