zulu
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A Bantu language: A language belonging to the Bantu family, spoken primarily in southeastern Africa, especially in South Africa, and possessing significant literary and cultural importance.
- An ethnic group: A community of Black African people, historically from the eastern region of South Africa, known for their rich cultural traditions.
- A member of this group: An individual belonging to the Zulu people, often characterized by a history of a strong clan system, with many now living in urban areas.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Language):
- She is learning Zulu to communicate with her colleagues in Durban.
- The poet wrote his most famous works in Zulu.
- Noun (People/Community):
- The Zulu have a renowned history of kingdom-building and military organization.
- This museum exhibits artifacts from the Zulu of the 19th century.
- Noun (Individual):
- He is a Zulu who moved to Johannesburg for work.
- My guide was a knowledgeable Zulu who shared stories about his heritage.
Advanced Usage
- "Zulu" in historical/military context: Often refers to the Zulu Kingdom, especially under leaders like Shaka Zulu.
- The Battle of Isandlwana was a major conflict involving the Zulu.
- "Zulu" in linguistic studies: Used to discuss features of the Nguni languages or Bantu language family.
- The grammar of Zulu includes a complex system of noun classes.
Variants and Related Words
- Zululand (n): A historical and geographical region in South Africa, the traditional homeland of the Zulu people.
- isiZulu (n): The indigenous name for the Zulu language.
- Zulu-speaking (adj): Describing a person or community that uses Zulu as their language.
- She works in a Zulu-speaking community.
Synonyms
- Nguni speaker: (when referring to language group affiliation).
- South African Bantu speaker: (a broader linguistic categorization).
Notes on Meaning
- The term "Zulu" is inherently proper and specific. It should be capitalized.
- It primarily refers to an ethnolinguistic group and their language, not to be used as a general descriptor.
Noun
- a Bantu language of considerable literary importance in southeastern Africa
- a community of Negroid people in eastern South Africa
- a member of the tall Negroid people of eastern South Africa; some live in KwaZulu-Natal under the traditional clan system but many now work in the cities