Body Parts

1. Mutu

   Head

   Usage

   Used to point to the head; it also turns up when describing a headache or fever

   Grammar Note

   "mutu" is a class 3 noun; "Mutu wako uchali kuŵinya?" means "Does your head still hurt?"

2. Sisi

   Hair

   Usage

   Used for the hair on the head

   Grammar Note

   "sisi" takes la- when possessed, as in "sisi lane" (my hair)

3. Nkhope

   Face

   Usage

   Used to point to the face, and to describe an expression or an injury to the face

   Grammar Note

   A possessor follows with ya-, as in "nkhope yake" (his or her face)

4. Jiso

   Eye

   Usage

   Used for one eye; both eyes are the plural "maso", and "pamaso pa" means "in front of"

   Grammar Note

   "jiso" is a class 5 noun with the plural "maso"

5. Khutu

   Ear

   Usage

   Used to point to an ear; ears in the plural are "makutu"

   Grammar Note

   "khutu" is a class 5 noun; the plural takes ma- as "makutu"

6. Mphuno

   Nose

   Usage

   Used to point to the nose

   Grammar Note

   "mphuno" is a class 9 noun and is also written "mpuno"

7. Mulomo

   Mouth

   Usage

   Used to point to the mouth; the plural "milomo" is also used for the lips

   Grammar Note

   "mulomo" is a class 3 noun and its plural is the class 4 form "milomo"

8. Jino

   Tooth

   Usage

   Used to point to a tooth; the plural "mino" is used for teeth in general

   Grammar Note

   "jino" is a class 5 noun with the plural "mino"

9. Lulimi

   Tongue

   Usage

   Used to point to the tongue

   Grammar Note

   "lulimi" is a class 11 noun; a possessor follows with lw-, as in "lulimi lwako" (your tongue)

10. Singo

    Neck

    Usage

    Used to point to the neck; the throat is covered by the same word

    Grammar Note

    "singo" covers both the neck and the throat

11. Woko

    Hand / Arm

    Usage

    Used for the hand or arm; both hands are the plural "mawoko", and "mu mawoko gha" means "in the hands of"

    Grammar Note

    "woko" is a class 5 noun with the plural "mawoko"; the same word covers hand and arm

12. Lundi

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Used for the leg or foot; both legs are the plural "malundi"

    Grammar Note

    "lundi" is a class 5 noun with the plural "malundi"; the same word covers leg and foot

13. Mtima

    Heart

    Usage

    Used both for the organ in the chest and for the heart as the seat of feeling

    Grammar Note

    "mtima" is a class 3 noun; "mtima wane" means "my heart"

14. Ndopa

    Blood

    Usage

    Used for blood; the basic word for telling someone about a wound or bleeding

    Grammar Note

    "ndopa" takes plural agreement, as in "ndopa zifumenge" (blood will come out)

15. Thupi

    Body

    Usage

    Used for the body as a whole, and in "thupi lose" (the whole body) when describing how you feel

    Grammar Note

    "thupi" is a class 5 noun; words that follow agree with l-, as in "thupi lose" (the whole body)

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