Zulu Terms

Just thought it might be interesting to share the kind of Zulu words I'm working with in my WIP, the John Dunn story, Heart of a Zulu. So I've listed the ones from my notes and what they mean in English. I'm getting pretty good at pronouncing them, too. Just remember what I've said before, that different books have different spellings for just about every one of these words.

Terms
iziBongi – Praise Singers
amaDlozi – ancestors
amaShoshozelo – loyal supporters
Ubuntu – to share or to be humane
inDaba – meeting with important people
Inceku – house servant
izAnusi – diviner
iNyanga – witchdoctor/diviner
ukuThakatha – to use supernatural forces for evil purposes
umThakathi – a person who uses supernatural forces for evil purposes
inDuna – advisor or an official of the king of chieftain
intangas – female troops or regiment for marrying the male troops
isiCoco – the head ring for mature males
Beka – to proclaim as heir to the king
Bayede – royal salute
uThulwana – Mpande’s regiment which Cetshwayo was in
uSuthu – Cetshwayo’s army
impi – Zulu warriors
Mathambo – the place of bones – the battle site of enDondakusuka
iziGqoza – Mbuyasi’s army
inKozikasi – the Great Wife at center hut behind cattle pen
inKhohlwa – left side of kraal ruled by the First Wife
inGqadi – right side of Kraal ruled by the substitute Great Wife
isiGodlo – king’s harem
isiCholo – wide straw hat warn by mature women
isiDwaba – goatskin skirt worn by women
uhbulahlu – beadwork in headdresses and necklaces
amabheshu – the backward apron worn by men
iziNhloli – advance scouts