List of English words of Zulu origin

This is a list of words of Zulu origin attested in use by speakers of South African English.

abatagati
(from abathakathi, a word also used in Xhosa; cf. synonymous umtagati, a borrowing into South African English from other Nguni languages) witches, warlocks, or other practitioners of magic for evil purposes[1]
aikona
(from hhayi khona "not here") no; certainly not; not at all[1]
baba
(from baba "father," a respectful form of address toward an older man) sir, mister[1]
Fanagalo
(from the phrase fana ga lo "like this") a Zulu-based pidgin spoken primarily by South African miners[1]
madumbi
(from amadumbe "taro tubers") taro tuber[1]
umfundisi
a teacher, priest, or missionary[2]

See also

References

  1. Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2010.
  2. "umfundisi". Oxford living dictionaries.
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