mzungu
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
mzungu (plural mzungus or wazungu)
- (East Africa) A white person. [from 19th c.]
- 1888, Joseph Thomson, E. Harris-Smith, Ulu: an African romance: Volume 1:
- I have given my daughter to an mzungu, and he says he will make her like the wives of the white men.
- 2004, Dan McNickle, Teaching and Hunting in East Africa:
- suspicion about an mzungu wanting a copy of the country's constitution
Synonyms edit
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Translations edit
Chichewa edit
Etymology edit
An early borrowing from another African language, ultimately from Common Bantu *mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
mzungu class 1 (plural azungu class 2)
- white person
Swahili edit
Etymology edit
From Common Bantu *mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
mzungu (m-wa class, plural wazungu)
- European, white person
- Synonym: mweupe
- (sometimes derogatory) rich person (who is not white)