abelungu

English

Alternative forms

• abeLungu
• Abelungu

Etymology

From Xhosa abelungu, Zulu abelungu, plural of umlungu.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /abəˈlʊŋɡuː/

Noun

abelungu (countable and uncountable; plural abelungu)

1. (South Africa, now chiefly pejorative) White people collectively.
   • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 27:

     Chief Joyi said that the African people lived in relative peace until the coming of the abelungu, the white people, who arrived from across the sea with fire-breathing weapons.

Zulu

Noun

abelungu 2

1. Plural form of umlungu.