abelungu

English

Alternative forms

• abeLungu
• Abelungu

Etymology

From Xhosa abelungu, Zulu abelungu, plural of umlungu.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /abəˈlʊŋɡuː/

Noun

abelungu (countable and uncountable, plural abelungu)

1. (South Africa, now chiefly derogatory) White people collectively.
   • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, published 2010, page 27:

     Chief Joyi said that the African people lived in relative peace until the coming of the abelungu, the white people, who arrived from across the sea with fire-breathing weapons.

Xhosa

Noun

ábélungu class 2

1. plural of umlungu

Zulu

Noun

abelungu class 2

1. plural of umlungu