laana ~ la'anaNG51karma (bad)Ramazani ana laana.Ramazani has bad karma.See: kula'ana.This noun refers to the notion that if someone keeps on doing bad things, then bad things will come to him or her.2payback
laba (malaba)NG3markSilawa kwe hondo bila laba.I came out of the war without a mark.
labdaAdv1maybeKama nda yako ikaluma, labda una gasdri.If your stomach aches, maybe you have an ulcer.Kadyula kana sumu? -- Labda.Is a baby frog poisonous? -- Maybe.2perhapsLabda yeye naye aunga kwita.Perhaps, he also wants to go.
labek< ArbInterjhuhMamnyako anakwitanga itika labek ama hii.When your mom calls reply with either 'labek' or hey.Uketika, itika, 'Labek'!When you're called, answer, 'Labek'!
ladu (maladu)NG31dieSaza ladu dyangu.I lost my die.2diceMiye na wambuya zangu changa chikavine ladu chiro chino.Me and my friends want to go play dice tonight.
laga (malaga)< ItNG3lakeKaya yenyu kama ina laga, wadaha ukalowa mallahi ya mboga.If your town has a lake, you can fish for fish for soup."Utah" wana laga dya mazi ya munyu.In Utah they have a lake of salt water.
lago (malago)NG31resting placeWapata lago dya kwikala.They got a resting place to stay in.2rest areaLago (dya kuhumuzikira) hadikukoshekana male mwe sira.A rest area (for resting) can't be missed at all on the road.3recuperating placeWalala ni mwiko kuhasogoera aho he di lago. (Arbow)Ladies are absolutely not to go close to the recuperating place.
Laibériya1NG5LiberiaSishi Laibériya.I lived in Liberia.Sikala Laibériya miyaka kumi.I stayed in Liberia ten years.See: Mlaibériya.2NG9
laibreri< EngNG5library (-ies)Ali kaita kwe di laibreri.Ali has gone to the library.Kila siku naita laibreri kusoma mabuku matatu.Every day I go to the library to read three books.Laibreri za mwe kaya yetu ni mdodo.Libreries in our town are few.
lailoni< EngNG51nylonDhiraa dino dyahurisha kwasabu ni lailoni.This dress is hot because it's nylon.Jaka dyangu ni lailoni, kwa ivo dyadaha kurheba fula.My jacket is nylon, so it can stop rain.Warsha wangu wasereza mabha'a ya lailoni piya.My factory produces nylon bags also.2rayonKatogola nguwo za lailoni.She likes clothes of rayon.
laini< EngNG5line(s)Izi ngombe zipangwa chi laini zose ili zikamawe mere.All the cows have been arranged in lines so they can be milked.Hano hapangwa laini nyingi; kila famili saizi ina laini yake.Here are arranged many lines; each family's size has its line.
laka (malaka)NG31back of the mouth (soft part)Mwana yuno aunga kulavwa chikalakala kwasabu laka dyake dina madutu.This child needs her infected tonsils to be taken out because the back of her mouth has swellings.Hande ino haikudyinkha he di laka.This food doesn't pass through the back of the mouth.See: chilaka, chilakalaka, chikalakala.2palate (soft)Hande ino i moto; yanisoma mwe di laka.This food is hot; it's burning on the soft palate.
lakiNohundred thousandWauza, "Ni vihi?" Wagambigwa,"Ni laki mbiri shilingi."They ask, "How much is it?" They are told, "Two hundred thousand shillings."
lakini< ArbConj1butLakini naunga nyingi.But I want more [goats].Sigwiza mphalamunyu, lakini ifakata.I caught a hawk in a trap, but it got away.Sita Tanzaniya, lakini sibuire Darsalamu.I went to Tanzania, but I didn't reach Dar es Salaam.Nankonga nite safari, lakini sibedelishwa.I wanted to go on a trip, but I was dissuaded.Sikutoera mnyuzu, lakini hunivire male.I whistled to you, but you didn't hear me at all.Simgamba eze, lakini hezire.I told him to come, but he didn't.Kanighemera yuwe, lakini dipea.He threw a dirt clod at me, but it missed.Somi initoza lakini nasulumira.The fast has taken hold of me, but I'm withstanding it.Sigula honde haluse, lakini yaunga kufekulwa.I've bought a farm at this time, but it needs to be cleared off.2howeverChuma chino hachikupogoseka lakini chino hano chapogoseka.This metal isn't drillable, however this one here is drillable.Mwanangu kasomera ufundi; lakini ni mwalimu haluse vino.My son studied engineering; however, he's a teacher now.3ratherBhorsa dino hadina sinyeri, lakini dina gwazo nyingi za kufungwa.This bag doesn't have a zipper, rather it has many hooks to close it.4otherwiseSihujeyeswa ni mapesa lakini saa zino nasibinda kale kolaji.I was hindered a lot by money, otherwise right now I would have already finished college.
lala (malala)NG3beehive or colony of beesSiona lala mo mti wa he haranti yangu.I saw a beehive in a tree in my yard.
lalahi (mallahi)NG3fishLalahi kuditogola?Fish you like?Sitoglo lalahi dino dihundu.I like this red fish.Lalahi diya naditogolwa ni miye.That fish was liked by me.Lalahi dimwenga dyanunkhiza mallahi yose mo mto.One fish makes all the fish in the river stink.Lalahi kulu hadikunga kunyonyovulwa ni kallahi kadodo.A big fish doesn't want to be nibbled by a little fish.Tate aunga kokerwa lalahi dimwenga.Dad wants one fish to be cooked for him.See: kallahi.
lalamiko (malalamiko)NG3complaintSina lalamiko hata dimwenga.I don't have even one complaint.This noun is rarely used in the singular, almost always used in the plural form. See: kulalamika.
lalushiNG51bribe(s)Nakwinkhe lalushi sono ukanilonge kwa mame.I'll give you a bribe so you don't go tell mom on me.Mapolisi yano waunga lalushi.Theses cops wanted a bribe.Waziri yuno katogola kusola lalushi.This minister likes to take bribesChiwenkha lalushi maaskari ya Kenya.We gave bribes to cops in KenyaSee: kwinkha lalushi, kulava lalushi.2extortionMwe kazi yangu sigaluka mbavi wa kusola lalushi.At my work I became a thief for taking extortion.
lamba (malamba)1NG3leaf (large)Lamba dya mnyonyo ni dawa.The large leaf of a castor plant is medicine.
lamba (malamba)2NG3baobab fruitLamba dina mwire kama matunda matuhu.Baobab fruit has sweetness like other fruits.See: mlamba ~ mnamba.
LameriNPropLameriMze Lameri ketwika farasila mbiri za maboko.Mr. Lameri put two 'farasila' (= 150 k) of bananas on his own head.Mze Lameri na Mze Abdhala nani wasanadyi.Mr. Lameri and Mr. Adullah were creators.man's name
lameta< ItNG5razor blade(s)Mwana anaira lameta, mwinkhe.If a kid keeps screaming for a razor blade, give it to him. ProverbMwanangu simdadazula lameta.I pried open [the hand of] my child and took away a razor blade.Naunga lameta ya kusengera makombe.I want a razor blade to cut my fingernails with.Lameta mbiri zafaya kwa kumogera wantru wanne.Two razor blades are enough to shave four people.
lamiNG51tarLami idodezwa mwe sira.Tar has been sprinkled on the road.Lami ino yakologeka na mkamshi wa chuma.This tar is stirrable with a metal spoon.2asphaltSira ino idyamanywa lami na jai.This asphalt is made of tar and gravel.3paved road, pavementSono wite kwe lami!Don't go [close] to the paved road!Lami za mwe kaya yetu zipasukapasuka.The paved roads in our town have cracked all over.
lampa (malampa)< ItNG3flashlightMulika hano ne di lampa!Shine here with the flashlight!Namulika na lampa.I'm shining with a flashlight.Ugazo apulisa lampa dyake.Ugazo is flashing his flashlight.Nna lampa dimwenga dya kumulikira na chiro.I have one lamp for shining at night.
lamsa ~ ramsaNG51greeting(s)Wanawo kunyumba wahinye lamsa ili walamse wantru wadyma.Teach your children at home about greetings so they greet adults.See: ndamsa, kulamsa.2salutation(s)