Verb transitive

Singular :icani

Plural: ifyani

MEANING

Grass, straw

Example of use

1.     Ekala mu ng`anda ya cani,

2.     MEANING: He or she lives in a grass thatched house

3.     -nukule cani,

MEANING: To pull out, uproot grass, to weed,

4.     Cani ca mpupu,

MEANING: grass with a tufted head

5.     Cani ca bushishila,

          MEANING: short grass

FIGURATIVE SPEECH

1.     -ikata ku cani (or tinta ku cani),

MEANING: To hang on to the grass, i.e. to refuse toleave or to march

2.     Cani ca ndililwa,

MEANING:The thatch of the hut where someone died (used as a charm)

     3  Cani caku mutenge

MEANING:a large number of

PROVERBS

Iyakula tainukwilwa cani.

Literal translation: The grown up (animal) does not havegrass plucked for it.

Meaning: An adult has to fend for himself or herself, he or shecannot rely on others to care for him or herthroughout his or her life.

Bemba Meaning: Umukalambaalaasakamana; tekuti ekalilefye bambi ukuti balemubombela lyonse iyoo.