Zulu
Americannoun
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a member of a Nguni people living mainly in Natal, Republic of South Africa.
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the Bantu language of the Zulu.
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a word used in communications to represent the letter Z.
adjective
noun
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a member of a tall Negroid people of SE Africa, living chiefly in South Africa, who became dominant during the 19th century due to a warrior-clan system organized by the powerful leader, Shaka
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the language of this people, belonging to the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo family, closely related to Swazi and Xhosa
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communications a code word for the letter z
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Zulu
from Zulu amaZulu people of the sky
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the first bus arrived to evacuate some of them on Sunday, the crowds chanted in Zulu "Siyahamba", meaning "We're leaving".
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
He returned home, his new name a nod to a Zulu chief, with a new rhythm to his work.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
As a teen, he became a member of the Black Spades gang, parlaying his leadership abilities to form the Universal Zulu Nation, that sought to channel youth culture away from violence and towards creativity.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
The group fused indigenous Zulu songs and dances with South African isicathamiya, an acapella tradition frequently accompanied by a soft, shuffling style of dance.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Once, he said, the Thembu, the Mpondo, the Xhosa, and the Zulu were all children of one father, and lived as brothers.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
