mzungu

M3Z10U1N1G2U1
UK/(ə)mˈzʊnɡuː/

noun

A white person.

Similar
umlunguabelunguang mohAngrezbalandabékébulecac
OriginSwahili mzung ← Common Bantu *mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀ →
First used 19th c.Scrabble 18
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounmzungu (plural mzungus or wazungu)

plural mzungus · plural wazungu · alternative muzungu · alternative umuzungu

  1. AfricaEastA white person.First known use 19th c.

    suspicion about an mzungu wanting a copy of the country's constitution

    2004, Dan McNickle, Teaching and Hunting in East Africa
    1 more example

    I have given my daughter to an mzungu, and he says he will make her like the wives of the white men.

    1888, Joseph Thomson, E. Harris-Smith, Ulu: an African romance: Volume 1

    Synonyms: umlungu, abelungu, ang moh, Angrez, balanda, béké, bule, cac

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA white person.

Similar
umlunguabelunguang mohAngrezbalandabékébulecacCaucasiancornstarch crusadercrackercumskinEurangutanEuropeanfarangfirangigringogoragussukgweilo
Also see
mlungu

Origin

  1. Common Bantu*mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀
  2. Swahilimzung
  3. Englishmzungu

Borrowed from Swahili mzungu, from Common Bantu *mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀.

More words from Swahili

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 鬼佬
  • 鬼佬 (gwai² lou²)mzungu
French mzoungou
  • mzoungoumzungu
Swahili mzungu
  • mzungumzungu
Zulu umlungu
  • umlungumzungu
Cite this entry
APA

mzungu. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mzungu

MLA

“mzungu.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mzungu. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mzungu,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mzungu.

Source: mzungu on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.