lewa

English: ‘liver’.

The term lewa is used somewhat indiscriminatorily for various inner organs, including the heart, spleen, liver and kidneys.

At the same time lewa is used figuratively where English has ‘heart’, meaning the seat of desire and affection. By contrast with bel, lewa is more about a chosen target for one’s emotions, rather than about uncontrollable emotions that well up inside like anger or a ‘heart felt’ feeling of sympathy towards another. .

See original Mihalic entry.

Noun forms

  1. Physiology: liver, heart, spleen, innards ® bel, waitlewa
    lewa bilong mi i sut I have (i) a sharp pain in the abdomen (ii) heart burn (iii) angina

  1. Form of relating: seat of desire and affection ® bel
    mi givim lewa tru long ol my heart goes out to them

  1. Kind of person: a darling, a sweetheart
    yu lewa bilong mi you are my sweetheart
    lewaboi, lewameri lover

  1. Mental state: something one craves
    dispela i lewa bilong ol this is something they really crave

© Revising the Mihalic Project, 26 Jan 2005 [Home]