L - l
| lack | -bhulá |
| ladder | ntandíló |
| ladder with hollowed steps | lweghó |
| ladle | lupáwa |
| ladle for dipping water | mútahó |
| lake | tánganyíká |
| · | zíwa |
| Lake Tanganyika | tánganyíká |
| lame person | sílemá |
| · | sísékwá |
| lamp | tála |
| lance | íisumó |
| land | músinsí |
| landlady | bhamaabhúsya |
| language | kátendéló |
| · | luúgha |
| large stick | ííkónyí |
| last | bhuhéla |
| last month | mwensí ghúkahwǐlé |
| last year, next year | mwakeéso |
| late | múda múlééhe |
| later on | bhaadáye |
| · | haáho |
| laugh | -séká |
| laugh scornfully | -nyaghalíla |
| laughter | nsékó |
| laural sp | kámujólá |
| law | syelía |
| lay a curse (upon sb.) | -lóghá |
| lay off | -bhíngá múntú |
| lay (eggs) | -teéla (májǐ) |
| laziness | bhúfílá |
| lazy | -fíla |
| lazy person | múfílá |
| lead a herd of domestic animals | -kemá (ng'óombe ~ mbusí) |
| lead the way | -lómbólá |
| leader | kálómbó |
| · | kyongoózi |
| leaf | lyanyí |
| leaf of bean | lyǎbha |
| · | maábha |
| leaf of kidney beans | múkubhí |
| leaf of palm | múnyikú |
| leaf of pampkin | musuúsa |
| leak | -sóóbhá |
| · | -toónya |
| lean | -sulámá |
| lean (against sth.) | -jeghámá |
| learn | -li-fundiísya |
| learner | fuúndi mwîgha |
| leave | -lalikílá |
| · | -lééhá |
| · | -léká |
| leave without saying goodbye | -bhombá |
| leave (sth.) | -lékúúlílá |
| · | -lékúúlúlá |
| leaves of pampkin | mápempé |
| leaves of sweet potato | íitembélé |
| leech | músúpíkó |
| · | nsuundó |
| left | kúlúnsó |
| · | lúhándé lwǎ lûnsó |
| · | -nsó |
| left hand | kubhoko kúnsó/kwálúnsó |
| · | kúmánsó |
| left spot after the burning off the field | silaála |
| leg | kúghúlú |
| legitimate | kásikínkí |
| lemon | iilimaáo |
| lend money | -kópéésyá |
| lend sth. | -tíísyá |
| length | bhúléhé |
| · | bhútalí |
| leopard | ngwé |
| · | nsubhí |
| leprosy | mpóngó |
| lesser kudu | ntandálá |
| let in | -jingísyá (múkatí) |
| let know | -júúlíísyá |
| let (sb.) V | -luhúsu |
| letter | bhaalúbha |
| level | -jeghá (bhwasí) |
| level long weeds (when walking) | -jeghá (bhwasí) |
| lick | -lambá |
| lick with one's finger | -kombá |
| lid | múfúníko |
| · | nfuúndi |
| lie | lúsáká |
| · | málamí |
| lie down | -laála |
| · | -li-ghólóólá |
| lie flat | -li-bhulúmúla |
| lie in wait | -bhélámílá |
| lie on one's back | -kánsághá (lúsághá) |
| · | -laála kánsághá |
| lie on one's side | -laála lúbhafú |
| life | maísya |
| lift | -bhuúsya |
| light | -háfú |
| · | -muníká |
| · | nuúlu |
| light a match | -kyǎnsya sibhiliíti |
| light fire | -ghásyá (mulílo) |
| lighten | -bhébhá |
| lightness | bhúháfú |
| like | -nyomwǎ |
| · | -téhá |
| like that | teéti |
| · | teétyó |
| · | twǐte |
| · | tyeé |
| like this | kubhá |
| · | ndí |
| lime tree | múkolé |
| limp | -suntá |
| linden | bhukukúma |
| line | musitaáli |
| line up | -pangá kúmúsitaáli |
| lion | nsimbá |
| lion in the herd | nsimbá jǎ lukalí |
| lip | múlómó |
| listen | -hulíkísya |
| listen (to sb.) silently | -hulíkísya |
| little by little | bhúseebhúsé |
| little tern | ndelúle |
| liver | sínyí |
| livestocks | sítungwá |
| lizard | kasǒnso |
| load | múlighó |
| · | -pakílá |
| load off | -pakúlá |
| loaf | mukaáte |
| loan | -kópéésyá |
| lobster | lînkalájé |
| lock | -jíghálá |
| locust | nsíghé |
| log bridge | bhútátó |
| · | kátántá |
| loincloth | kapiíta |
| · | múléndé |
| · | síkójé |
| · | síkólé |
| long | -lééhé |
| longicorn | likafuníla |
| longicorn worm | límpántí |
| look after (a child) | -lólá mwaná |
| look at (sth.) | -kúngá |
| look behind | -bhijúká |
| look down | -nóóbhá |
| look for | -hensá |
| · | -hensá múntú |
| · | -hensélá |
| look for new field | -funá |
| look for without knowing where it is | -sálálá |
| look round | -bhijághúka |
| loom for rain cloud or thunder cloud | -híndá |
| loosen | -tébhúlá |
| · | -tébhúsyá |
| Lords | kasaaghula |
| lose | -taágha |
| lose interest (in sth.) | bhúsíla háamu |
| lose one's way | -lúbhá |
| · | -lúbhíílá |
| lot of medicine | káhómpó |
| lots of death | iisimilílo |
| lourie | nkúlúkúlú |
| lousé egg | íikéndé |
| love | -nyomwǎ |
| · | -téhá |
| lover (traditional) | músúmbákásí |
| low | -tofú |
| lower jaw | íibhangájá |
| lower part of the abdomen | bhúnéná |
| lower part of the leg | kásáfú |
| luck of salt | bhúfúbhé |
| lumber tree sp | múnyingá |
| lump | ntólo |
| lump or morsel of the food formed with the hand | íítósí |
| lump or morsel of the ugali | ntósi |
| lung | íípómbó |
| lycaon | ííbhîngá |
| · | iipuúghe |
| · | liipuúghe |