University of Zambia Medical Library

• Introduction
• Skeletal Bones - Front
• Skeletal Bones - Back
• External Parts of the Body
• Internal Parts of the Body
• Limbs and Joints
• Muscles
• Heart and Lungs
• Circulation and Blood
• Perineum
• Eye
• Ear
• Brain
• Male Reproductive System
• Female Reproductive System
• Respiratory System
• Senses (Touch, Taste and Smell)
• Skin, Hair and Nails
• Digestive System
• Waste System

Skeletal Bones - Front

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Explanatory Notes	Ifupa means a bone. Amafupa means more than one. -lya-means at, on, a demonstrative preposition.	Amafupa means many (plural). Fupa means one (singular).	Chifuwa means bones (plural). Zifuwa means one bone (singler). Tufuwa means small.	Masapo means bones (plural). Lisapo means bone (singler).
Finger bones (phalange)	Amafupa ya ku munwe("bones of finger") plural	Mafupa ya vikumo ya kunzanja	Tufuwa twa ku minwe	Masapo a minwana
Hand bones	Amafupa ya cisansa("bones of hand")	Mafupa cha kunzanja	Chifuwa ca ku kwanza	Masapo a minwana
Wrist bones		Mafupa ya chanzanza	Chifuwa ca ku canko	Masapo a lizoho
Forearm bones	Amafupa ya ku kukuboko("bones of hand")		Chifuwa ca ku kwanza	Masapo a lizoho
Upper arm bone (humerus) singler	Ifupa lya kukuboku("bone of arm")		Chifuwa ca ku kuboko	Masapo a mwambo
Skull (cranium)	Icipanga	Mafupa ya kumphimi	Chifuwa ca ku mutwe	Katandele
Jaw bone	Umucendwa	Mafupa ya chigama	Zifuwa ca mwebo	Mutahali
Collar bone (clavicle)	Ifupa lya pantibi	Mafupa ya chipikiti	Zifuwa ca kwiko	Masapo a liheta
Shoulder bone (scapula)	Ifupa lya pa kubeya		Zifuwa ca gwezyo	Masapo a liheta
Breast bone (sternum)	Ifupa lya pa ntibi (inkombe)	Mafupa ya ka tilitili	Chifuwa ca kango	Kasambamezi
Ribs	Imbafu	Mafupa ya mawambo	Mabambo	Makupo
Back bone or spine (vertebrae)	Umungololo	Mafupa ya msana	Chifuwa ca musana	Masapo a mukokoto
Hip bone or pelvis	Ifupa lya pa lutungu		Chifuwa ca kasolo	Lisapo la noka
Thigh bone (femur)	Ifupa lya pe tanta	Mafupa ya chiwelo	Chifuwa ca mu cibelo	Lisapo la silupi
Knee cap (patella)	Impande	Mafupa ya nkhokola,nkhongono	Chifuwa ca cigondo	Ngongo ya linwele
Calf bone (fibula)	Ifupa lya kuli kapafu		Kafuwa ka munsafu	Masapo a lihutu
Shin bone (tibia)	Ifipa lya pamukonso	Mafupa ya mkonzo	Chifuwa ca mwindi	Masapo a lihutu
Ankle bones	Amafupa ya pa nkolokoso		Chifuwa ca ku ngo	Ngongo ya lihutu
Foot bones (phalanges)	Amafupa ya mu lukasa("bones inside the foot")	Mafupa ya phazi	Zifuwa zya ku ndyato	Masapo a minwana ya mahutu
Toe bones (phalanges)		Mafupa ya vikumo va ku mwendo	Tufuwa twa ku ndyato	Masapo a minwana ya mahutu

Skeletal Bones - Back

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
finger bones(phalanges)	mafupa ya kumunwe (p)
wrist bones	mafupa ya kukuboko (p)
wrist bones	Mafupa ya pa kuboko (p)
forearm bones	Mafupa ya kukuboko (p)
upper arm bone (humerus)	Fupa pamulu wa kuboko
shoulder bone (scapula)	Fupa lya pa kubeya (s)
skull (cranium)	Cipangah (s)
collar bone (scapula)	Fupa lya ku mukoshi(s)
ribs	Mbafu (p)
back bone or spine	Fupa lya pa mungololo
hip bone or pelvis (vertebrae)	fupa lya pa nwumbi (p)
tail bone (coccyx)	Fupa lya ku mucila (s)
thigh bone (femur)	Fupa lya pe tanta (s)
calf bone (fibula)	Fupa lya ku lusafu(s)
shin bome (tibia)	Fupa lya pa mukonso(s)
heel bone	Fupa lya ku Katende(s)

External Parts of the Body

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
External parts	Ifipande fya Mubili ifya kunse
Head	Mutwe(singular) Mitwe(plural)		Mutwe	Toho
frontal	Mpumi(always in plural)		Busyu	Kwapili
temporal	Mumbali
occiput	Lukobo		Makosi	Likoshi
Hair	Mushishi(singular) Mishishi(plural)		Masusu	Milili
Eyes	Menso(plural) Linso(singular)		Meso	Meto
Ears	Matwi(plural) Kutwi (singular)		Matwi	Mazebe
Lips	Milomo(p) Mulomo(s)		Lulomo (s) Milomo (p)	Milomi
Nose	Mona(s) Myona(p)		Mpemo	Ngo(lingo plural)
Mouth	Kanwa(s) Tunwa(p		Mulomo
Chin	Kalefulefu(s) Tulefulefu(p)		Kebo	Silelu
Neck	Mukoshi(s) Mikoshi(p		Insingo	Mulala
Chest	Cifuba(s) Fifuba(p)		Chamba	Sifuba
Breasts	Mabele(p)Bele(s)		Inkolo	Mazwele
Axilla	Mapa(p) Kwapa(s)		Inkwa	Lihafwa
Skin	Nkanda(always in plural)		Lukanda	Litalo
Abdomen	Fumo(s) Mafumo(p)		Kasolo	Mba
Umbilicus	Mutoto(s) Mitoto(p)		Ikombo	Mukuba
Spine	Mungololo(s) Mingololo(p)		Mubumbu/Muluse
Waist	Musana(s) Misana(p)		Chibuno	Teka, Liteka (p)

Internal Parts of the Body

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Head (inside the head)	Mukati ka Mutwe
Hair	Mushishi	Tsitsi
Skin	Nkanda
Fat	Mafuta (p) Futa (s)	Mafuta
Muscle	Munofu (s) Minofu (p)	Zino (s) mano (p)
Skull	Cipanga (S) Kapanga (small eg. for baby)
Brain	Bongobongo (uncountable)
Teeth	Meno (p) Lino (s)
Tongue	Lulimi (s) Ndimi (p)	Lilime (s) malilime (p)
Mouth (inside)	Mukanwa	Mukanwa
Hard palate
Soft palate
Neck	Mukoshi	Khosi
Skin	Nkanda
Muscles	Minofu
Thyroid (Adams apple)	Kapono
Trachea (gullet)	Mukolomino (s) Mikolomino (p)	Dyokoko
Chest (inside)	mu Cifuba
Muscles	Minofu
Ribs	Mbafu (p) Lubafu (s)	Mbambo
Sternum	Ntibi(always in singular)	Nganga
Spine	Mungololo(s) Mingololo(p)	Msana
Lungs	Pwapwa, Sapala (s) Bapwapwa, Basapala (p)	Pwapwa
Heart	Mutima (s) Mitima (p)	Mutima
Diaphram	Cefu
Head (inside the head)	Mukati ka Mutwe	Muthu
Abdomen (inside)	Mwifumo	Mukati ka mimba
Muscles	Minofu	Minofu
Stomach	Mumala
Kidneys	Nfyo (p) Lufyo(s)	Inso
Spleen	Ndusha (zero prefix)
Pancreas		Khalambalala
Gall bladder		Ndulu
Small intestines	Matumbo ya nono (p) Kalitumbo (s)	Matumbo ya gono
Colon		Tumbo likulu
Bladder	Cisu (s) Fisu (p)	Citundilo
Liver	Libu (s) Mabu (p)

Limbs and Joints

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Upper Limbs	Maboko
Skin	Nkanda		Lukanda	Litalo
Hair	Mushishi (s) Mishishi (p)		Masusu	Milili
Hair-hand, legs	Bupipi
Hair-chin, armpits, chest, stomach	Fwenfu
Hand, palm			Chanko
Fist			Nyindi	Ngindi, Lingindi (p)
Eyelashes, eyebrows	Nkopwo
Palm	Cisansa (s) Fisansa (p)
Forearm	Kuboko
Biceps	Bomwe (s) Babombwe (p		Mulambi
Elbow	Kaboyo (s) Tuboyo (p)		Kakokola	Ngokolwa, Lingokolwa (p)
Shoulder	Kubeya(s) Mabeya (p)		Kwiko	Liheta (maheta)
Joints	Malundo, Majointi (from English)
Inter phalanges joints			Answangano ya tufuwa
Meta phalanges joints			Mpyungu
Intercarpal joints
Wrist joints	Malundo ya pakuboko
Elbow joints	Malundo ya pakaboyo		Answangano ya kakokola
Shoulder joints	Malundo ya pakubeya		Swangano ya kwiko
Lower Limbs	Molu (p) Kulu (s)
Thigh	Tanta (s) Matata (p)		Chibelo	Silupi, Lilupi (p)
Knee	Kufi(s) Makufi(p)		Ichizwi	Lingwele, Mangwele (p)
Calf	Kapafu (s) Bakapafu (p)		Njela
Knee cap	Mpanda (zero prefix)
Leg	Kulu(s) Molu (p)		Kwendo	Lihutu, Mahutu (p)
Shins	Mikonso (p) Mukonso (p)		Kalezu
Ankle	Nkolokoso (zero prefix)		Ingo
Heel	Katendende (s) Tutende(p)		Kasindi	Lisito, Masito (p)
Foot	Lukasa (s) Makasa (p)		Dyasyo
Dorsal	Pamulu Walukasa
Plantar	Mulukasa
Sole	Mulukasa		Dyaso
Toes	Fikondo(P) Cikondo(s)		Tunwe Twakumolu	Minwana ya mahutu
Nails	Ngala (zero prefix), Mala (p)		Mala	Manala
Joints	Malundo, Majointi			Lingongo (p) Ngongo (s)
Hip joint	Malundo ya palutungu		Chifuwa ca kasolo	Noka
Ankle joint (politeal fossal)	Malundo ya pansokoso		Chifuwa chango
Knee joint			Igondo	Lingwele (s) Mangwele (p)
Interphalanges joint	Malundo ya mafupa ya kuminwe		Tufuwa twakuminwa
Metal torsal phalange joint			ya ku manza

Muscles

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Head muscles	Minofu ya ku mutwe (p)
Face muscles	Minofu ya ku mpumi (p)
Biceps	Minofu ibili ya pa kuboko (p)
Rib muscles	Minofu ya ku mbafu (p)
Abdominal muscles	Minofu ya pa lufumo (p)
Thigh muscles	Minofu ya pe tanta (p)
Neck muscles	Minofu ya ku mukoshi
Shoulder muscles	Minofu ya pa kubeya
Triceps	Minofu ya pa kuboko itatu (bombwe) (triceps means itatu)
Buttocks muscles	Minofu ya ku matako
Calf muscle	Minofu ya ku nsafu
Achilles tendon	Mushipashipa wa ku kulu
Back muscles
Neck muscles	Iminofu ya ku mukoshi (p)
Shoulder muscles	Iminofu ya pa kubeya (p)
Triceps	Iminofu itatu pali babombwe (triceps means three muscles ie. itatu)
Buttock musles	Iminofu ya ku matako (p)
Calf muscles	Iminofu ya ku nsafu (p)
Achilles tendon	Umushipashipa ku kukulu

Heart and Lungs

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Heart and Lungs	Mutima na ba Pwapwa
Heart	Mutima
Main artery (aorta)	Mushipa ukalamba uutwala mulopa ku mutima
Main ven (vena cava)	Mushipa ukalamba uufumya mulopa ku mutima
Valves	Nciliko
Pulmonary artery	Mushipa ukalamba wa ku mutima
Pulmonary veins	Mishipa ikalamba ya ku mutima (p)
Muscles	Minofu (p) munofu(s)
Right ventricle
Left ventricle
Lungs	Pwapwa
Vocal cords (larynx)	Tulimba limba twa mashiwi
Windpipe (trachae)	Mukolomino
Main artery (aorta)	Mushipa ukalamba wa ku mutima
Pulmonary artery	Mushipa wafuma ku mutima
Right lung	Pwapwa wa kukulyo
Main vein (vena cava)	Mushipa ukalamba wa fuma ku mutima
Bronchus	Mupita mwela tupema (oxygen)
Bronchiole	Mupita mwela tupema (oxygen)

Circulation and Blood

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Circulation
Heart	Mutima
Main artery (aorta)	Mushipa utwala mulopa ku mutima
Main vein (vena cava)	Mushipa ufumya mulopa ku mutima
Jugular vein	Mushipa utwala mulopa ku mutwe
Composition of blood
Red blood cells	Mulopa wakashikila (red means kashika)
Platelets
White blood cells	Mulopa wa buta (buta means white)
bacteria (engulfed by white blood cells)	Tushishi tulwisha malale mumubili

Perineum

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Perineum (private parts)	Fipande fyafisama		Chinswe
Female	Mwanakashi		Mukaintu
NOTE: It is a taboo in most African Languages to mention female private parts. Therefore, doctors are advised to use "there are sores below the waist".	Bwanakashi or Kwisamba, eg. "Kwisamba kuli ifiloda"
Skin	Nkanda		Lukanda	Litalo
Pubic hair	Maso		Mahozi	Maboya
Vulva			Ntoto
Labia			Malepe	Malebe
Clitoris	Soswe(s)basoswe(p)		Kakongo	Mukongo
Vagina	Ndofu(always in plural)
Vagina opening		Ntoto (kasubilo)		Nyo
Womb	Fumo (s) Mafumo (p)
Placenta	Cisa(s) Fisa (p)
Rectum	Musula (s) misula (p), mushondo
Gluteal region (buttocks)	Matako (p) tako(s)		Matako	Malaho
Gluteal cleft region (between)	Pamampanda ya matako mampanda (in between)		Mwandu
Anus			Muzindo
Male	Mwaume(s) Baume (p)		Busankwa	Mumma
Skin	Nkanda		Lukanda
Pubic Hair	Maso (always in plural)		Mahozi	Maboya
Scrotum (skin of testis)	Nkanda ye tole (s) nkanda ya matole (p)		Lukanda lya machende	Malete
Penis	Bukala(s) makala (p) but derogative		Intoni	Nemba
Prepuce (foreskin)	Nkanda ya kumpela ya bukala (bwamba) euphemism		Lukanda lya ntoni
External urethral(meatus)			Kasubilo	Munungu
Glans penis (head)	Mutwe wa bukala, bwamba
Rectum	Mushondo (s) mishondo (p)
Anus			Muzindo

Eye

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Eye	Linso no kutwi
Retina	Mushipa wa kunuma ya linso
Cornea	Cikumbi calinso
Lens	Citunshitunshi
Iris	Akapunda ka mulinso
Pupil	Akamuntu (" a small person" )
Conjunctiva	Mushipa
Nerve	Mushipa
Eye muscles	Minofu ya linso

Ear

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Ear	Ukutwi
Outer ear	Kutwi kwa kunse
Ear drum	Lembalemba ya mu kutwi
Inner ear	Kutwi kwa mukati
Middle ear	Mukati ka kutwi
Nerve	Mushipa
Cochlea

Brain

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Brain	Bongongo ya ku kulyo
Right hemisphere	Bongongo ya ku kuso
Left hemisphere
Cerebral cortex (forebrain)	Bongongo ya kumpumi
Skull	Cipanga
Pons
Hindbrain (cerebellum)	Bongongo ya kunuma
Medulla
Midbrain	Bongongo ya pakati kamutwe
Brain controls the following functions:
Smell	Kununsha
Sight	Kumona
Chewing and facial muscles	Kusheta ne minofu ya ku mpumi
Hearing and balance	Kumfwa nokukana pona
Swallowing and some taste	Kumina no kusonda
Breathing and digestion	Kupema no kusungulula
Neck muscles	Minofu ya ku mukoshi
Muscles to the tongue and other muscles	Minofu ya ku lulimi ne minofu imbi
Taste on 2/3 of the tongue	Ku sonda pakati ka lulimi
Facial muscles	Minofu ya ku mpumi
Eye muscles	Minofu ya ku linso

Male Reproductive System

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Male Reproductive System	Bufyashi bwa mwaume
Vas deferens	Mishipa ya fuma ku matole
Penis	Bukala (bwaume)
Testis	Matole (p) itole (s)
Scrotum	Inkanda ya ku matole (skin of testis)
Urethra	Kapunda ka misu,na menshi ya bufyashi
Gland (prostate)	Bufyashi
Fertilization
Sperm	Menshi ya bufyashi yafuma ku mwaume
Egg cell or ovum	Kalini ka bufyashi ku mwanakashi

Female Reproductive System

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Female Reproductive System	Bufyashi bwa banakashi
Womb (uterus)	Icisa (nest)
Fallopian tube
Ovary	Mupangwa mani ya bufyashi
Cervix
Vagina	Cinyo
Menstral cycle	Ku Mweshi ("to the moon")

Respiratory System

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Respiratory system
Nasal cavity	Buswaswa bwa myona
Vocal cords (larynx)	Tulimbalimba twa mashiwi
Windpipe	Mukolomino
Ribs	Mbafu
Lungs	Bapwapwa
Diaphragm	Cefu, cifuba
Rib muscles	Minofu
Breathing in (chest expands)	Kupemena mukati cifuba cilatutumuka
Breathing out (rib muscles)	Kupemena kunse cifuba cila cepa

Senses (Touch, Taste and Smell)

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Touch	Kumya
Touch Receptor	Ukukumya
Cold Receptor	Ukutala
Heat Receptor	Ukukaba
Pain Receptor	Ubukali
Outer skin	Inkanda ya pamulu
Hair	Umushishi
Pressure	Titikisha
Taste	Sonda
Bitter	Lula
Sour	Sasamina
Salty	Icikelekese
Sweet	Lowa
Taste-the tongue	Kusonda no lulimi
Papillae	Tupulumba twa palulimi
Taste bud	Umupangwa utwa kusondela
Nerve fibres	Mishipeshipe
Supporting cells	Utwafwilisha
Smell	Nunsha
Sense organ for smell	Bununkilo
Sense cell	Akakumfwilako
Nerves	Mishipa

Skin, Hair and Nails

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Skin	Nkada
Top layer (epidermis)	Nkanda ya pamulu
Second layer (dermis)	Nkanda ya cibili
Third layer (subcutaneous)	Nkanda ya citatu
Sweat gland	Mupangwa libe
Nerve	Mushipa
Blood vessels	Mishipa ya mulopa
Fat cells	Mafuta
Erector muscle	Munofu
Hair	Mushishi
Gland
Hair follicle	Akapunda kamushishi
Hair root	Mushila wa mushili
Nails (keratin)	Ngala, lwala, amala (p)
Fatty tissue	Ifuta
Bone	Ifupa (s) amafupa (p)
Third layer (subcutaneous)	Nkanda ya citatu

Digestive System

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Digestive System
Oesophagus	Mukolomino (s) mikolomino (p)
Liver	Iibu (s), mabu (p)
Stomach	Cifu (s)
Gall Bladder	Ndusha
Panchreas	Lamba
Large intestine	Bula bukalamba (s), mala (p)
Small intestine	Bula bunono (s), mala (p)
Appendix
Rectum	Mushondo (s), mishondo (p)
Teeth	Ameno (p), ilino (s)
Incisors	Utusonga mbwa
Canines	Utusonga mbwa
Premolars	Bana boya (p), naboya (s)
Molars	Bana boya

Waste System

English	ChiBemba	ChiNyanja	Ci Tonga	Si Lozi
Waste System	Ukufumya busali mumubili
Inside each kidney	Mukati ka cila lufyo
Medulla	Mukati ka lufyo
Cortex	Icakunse ya lufyo
Renal artery	Mushipa wa misu
Renal vein	Mushipa wa misu
Ureter	Mushipa wa misu
Outside each kidney	Kunse ya cila lufyo
Renal vein	Mushipa wa lufyo
Renal artery	Mushipa wa lufyo
Left kidney	Lufyo lwa kukuso
Right kidney	Lufyo lwa kukulyo
Ureter	Mushipa wa misu
Bladder	Cisu (s), fisu (p)
Gland (prostate)	Mupangwa misu
Urethra	Kapunda kamisu

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Last updated February 19, 2001