Zimba, n.

zimba
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zimba_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2022

# Zimbanoun

## Earlier version

- Zimba in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun Zimba mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun Zimba. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun Zimba?

About 0.03occurrences per million words in modern written English

1790 | 0.0043
1800 | 0.0043
1810 | 0.0041
1820 | 0.004
1830 | 0.0038
1840 | 0.0038
1850 | 0.0025
1860 | 0.0039
1870 | 0.0064
1880 | 0.0072
1890 | 0.0098
1900 | 0.012
1910 | 0.015
1920 | 0.019
1930 | 0.022
1940 | 0.024
1950 | 0.026
1960 | 0.028
1970 | 0.029
1980 | 0.029
1990 | 0.03
2000 | 0.029
2010 | 0.027

### How is the noun Zimba pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɪmbə/
ZIM-buh

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɪmbə/
ZIM-buh

#### East African English

/ˈzimba/

### Where does the noun Zimba come from?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the noun Zimba is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zimba is from 1625.

Zimba is a borrowing from Portuguese.

Etymons: Portuguese Zimba.

### Nearby entries

1. zill, n. 1754–
2. zilla, n. 1772–
3. -zilla, comb. form
4. zilladar, n. 1763–
5. Zil lane, n. 1985–
6. zilla parishad, n. 1957–
7. zillion, n. & adj. 1920–
8. zillionaire, n. 1926–
9. zillionth, n. & adj. 1940–
10. zimb, n. 1790–
11. Zimba, n.1625–
12. Zimbabwe, n. 1891–
13. Zimbabwean, adj. & n. 1961–
14. zimbel, n. 1888–
15. zimme, n. 1848–63
16. Zimmer, n. 1951–
17. zina, n. 1817–
18. zinc, n. 1651–
19. zinc, v. 1843–
20. zinc-air, adj. 1970–
21. Zincala, n. 1844–91

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Portuguese.
Etymon: Portuguese Zimba.
< Portuguese Zimba (1609 in the passage translated in quot. 1625), apparently < a word in an unidentified African language of the region (it is also unclear whether this was originally a…
< Portuguese Zimba (1609 in the passage translated in quot. 1625), apparently < a word in an unidentified African language of the region (it is also unclear whether this was originally a self-designation or a name or description used by others).

### Notes

The alternative form Muzimbas (cited in quot. 1625; < Portuguese Muzimbas (1609 in the passage translated)) appears to reflect a form in a Bantu language with the singular class prefix for a person, with subsequent addition of the Portuguese plural ending ‑s.
Zimba or Zimbas are also attested as place names at an early date (1600 or earlier in English; 1592 or earlier in Italian), but there is no direct evidence linking these to the Zimba people.

## Meaning & use

historical.

1. 1625–
   A member of an East African people of the Zambezi valley who came into conflict with the Portuguese in the late 16th cent.
   1. 1625

      > Before Tete, on the otherside of the Riuer within Land to the East and North-east, are two kinds of Man-eating Cafres, the Mumbos and Zimbas or Muzimbas [Pg. Zimbas, ou Muzimbas], who eate those they take in warre, and their slaues also when they are past labour, and sell it as Beefe or Mutton.

      translation of J. dos Santos in S. Purchas, Pilgrimes vol. II. ix. xii. §iv. 1551
   2. 1733

      > Most of the Cafres on the Coast of Barbary are Anthropophagites also, and particularly those call'd Zimbas.

      in translation of Ancient Accounts India & China Remarks 6
   3. 1817

      > They [sc. the Portuguese] had a series of terrible wars to sustain, from an inroad of the Mumbos or Zimbas, a tribe described as resembling the Giagas.

      J. Leyden & H. Murray, Hist. Account Discov. & Trav. Africa vol. II. ii. vi. 364
   4. 1913

      > The Zimba, a powerful tribe of barbarians who lived N.E. of Tete on the Zambezi, are now first heard of in these parts. In 1588 they invaded Kilwa, and the next year passed up the coast and invaded Mombasa.

      C. A. Stigand, Land of Zinj i. 17
   5. 2012

      > The military campaigns in southeast Africa launched in the late sixteenth century by the people known as the Zimba.

      A. J. Andrea & J. H. Overfield, Human Rec. vol. II. (ed. 7) i. iii. 88
   historical
   1. Zimba 1625–
      A member of an East African people of the Zambezi valley who came into conflict with the Portuguese in the late 16th cent.
   2. Tambouki 1786–1902
      The Tembu people. Cf. Tembu, n. Obsolete.
   3. Hottentot 1795–
      The Khoekhoe and San peoples collectively; = Khoisan, n. A.1. Cf. bushman, n. Now offensive.
   4. San 1801–
      A member of any of various Indigenous peoples of southern Africa, esp. of the Kalahari Desert, who are traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers.
   5. Morolong 1815–
      = Rolong, n. A.1.
   6. Oorlam 1815–
      A name formerly given to: a member of any Indigenous people of Southern Africa familiar, as a result of long contact, with the customs, standards…
   7. Barolong 1823–
      = Rolong, n. A.1. Cf. Morolong, n.
   8. Tembu 1827–
      A member of a Xhosa-speaking people of the south-eastern part of South Africa; also, this people collectively.
   9. Fingo 1829–
      A Xhosa-speaking people of South Africa, now resident in the Eastern Cape province, representing a coalescence of various groups of fugitives…
   10. Ngwaketse a1832–
       A member of a southern African people inhabiting Botswana. Also as adj.
   11. Masarwa 1835–
       South African. Now offensive and chiefly derogatory. Esp. among speakers of Tswana: a member of a Bushman people inhabiting the northern Kalahari Desert.
   12. Cape Malay 1845–
       A member of a largely Afrikaans-speaking, Muslim community or ethnic group resident mainly in the Western Cape of South Africa. Cf. Malay, n. A.1b.
   13. Ovaherero 1851–
       With plural agreement. The Herero-speaking people living in Namibia, Botswana, and Angola, or those of a subgroup in Central Namibia and Botswana…
   14. Lunda 1857–
       A member of any of several peoples mainly inhabiting northern Zambia and adjoining areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola.
   15. earth people 1861
       With capital initial. Members of an Indigenous southern African people, probably identical to the Bushmen or San. Cf. earthman, n. 3. Obsolete. rare.
   16. Herero 1862–
       A member of a black African people of Namibia (formerly called South-West Africa); the Bantu language spoken by these people, called Otshi-Herero…
   17. Swazi 1878–
       A member of this people.
   18. Magwamba 1884–
       A group of Tsonga-speaking people of Limpopo province (formerly northern Transvaal) of South Africa.
   19. Cape people 1900–
       South African natives of mixed descent.
   20. Cape Coloured 1914–
       A Cape Coloured person.
   21. Khoisan 1929–
       The Khoekhoe and San people collectively; a member of the Khoekhoe or San people. Cf. Hottentot, n. A.1b.
   22. Rolong 1937–
       A member of a southern African people of the Tswana group, living mainly in the North West Province of South Africa and in Botswana; a speaker of…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɪmbə/
ZIM-buh

### U.S. English

/ˈzɪmbə/
ZIM-buh

### East African English

/ˈzimba/

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee, thaw
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- x(Swahili borrowings only)
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used as in British and US English.

##### Vowels

- ikit, fleece, happy
- edress, face, nurse
- atrap, strut, bath, palm, nurse, letter
- olot, cloth, thought, north, force, goat
- ufoot, goose
- aumouth
- aipride
- oivoice
- ianear
- easquare
- uacure

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Inflections

Plural: unchanged, Zimbas

## Frequency

Zimba typically occurs about 0.03 times per million words in modern written English.

Zimba is in frequency band 3, which contains words occurring between 0.01 and 0.1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of Zimba, n., 1790–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1790 | 0.0043
1800 | 0.0043
1810 | 0.0041
1820 | 0.004
1830 | 0.0038
1840 | 0.0038
1850 | 0.0025
1860 | 0.0039
1870 | 0.0064
1880 | 0.0072
1890 | 0.0098
1900 | 0.012
1910 | 0.015
1920 | 0.019
1930 | 0.022
1940 | 0.024
1950 | 0.026
1960 | 0.028
1970 | 0.029
1980 | 0.029
1990 | 0.03
2000 | 0.029
2010 | 0.027

Zimba, n. was revised in June 2022.

Zimba, n. was last modified in September 2024.