Standard Lemma guide

mzungu

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /(ə)mˈzʊnɡuː/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A white person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Africa, East

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: umlungu, abelungu, ang moh, Angrez, balanda, béké, bule, cac, Caucasian, cornstarch crusader, cracker, cumskin, Eurangutan, European, farang, firangi, gringo, gora, gussuk, gweilo, haole, honky, hoogie, hoojah, ice monkey, ivory, joganosh, kabloona, laowai, leucoderm, mayo, mayo monkey, mayonnaise face, melanin-challenged, migaloo, mlungu, mzungu, ofay, oyinbo, paddy, Pakeha, paleface, pigskin, pinky, roundeye, saltine, snow bunny, snow roach, toubab, vazaha, vanilla, wadjela, white, whiteboy, white bread, white devil, whiteface, white man, whitey, Whitoid, wigger, wonderbread, Yankee

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Common Bantu *mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀der. Swahili mzungubor. English mzungu Borrowed from Swahili mzungu, from Common Bantu *mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Amharic: ፈረንጅ (färänǧ) — mzungu
  • Antigua and Barbuda Creole English: bakra — mzungu
  • Chichewa: mzungu — mzungu
  • Chinese Cantonese: 鬼佬 (gwai2 lou2) — mzungu
  • Dhuwal: balanda — mzungu
  • French: mzoungou — mzungu
  • Mwani: nzungu — mzungu
  • Swahili: mzungu — mzungu
  • Zulu: umlungu — mzungu