Zulu

[ zoo-loo ]

noun

, plural Zu·lus, (especially collectively) Zu·lu

1. a member of a Nguni people living mainly in Natal, Republic of South Africa.
2. the Bantu language of the Zulu.
3. a word used in communications to represent the letter Z.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Zulus or their language.

Zulu

/ -luː; ˈzuːlʊ /

noun

1. -lus-lu 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
2. the language of this people, belonging to the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo family, closely related to Swazi and Xhosa
3. communications a code word for the letter z

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zulu¹

from Zulu amaZulu people of the sky

Example Sentences

“On every album, they make complexity irresistible,” says Thomas Mars of the French band Phoenix, which drafted Koenig to appear on the song “Tonight,” from 2022’s “Alpha Zulu” LP.

From Los Angeles Times

The 82-year-old is also greatly respected by his supporters for upholding his cultural and traditional Zulu beliefs - and has several wives and is thought to have 20 children.

From BBC

She was born in Welkom, in Free State province, to a Malawian father and a Zulu mother.

From BBC

“When I started in 2019 I had about 40 students, but now it’s around 100 plus, and that is just in one class,” says 33-year-old teacher Cleopatra Zulu.

From BBC

L.A.’s Zulu is one of the fiercest live bands around, but its members aspire to generate more than just a roiling mosh pit: ‘The point is to build a community.’

From Los Angeles Times