Zanzibarinoun & adjective
Factsheet
What does the word Zanzibari mean?
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word Zanzibari. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the word Zanzibari?
| 1880 | 0.3 |
| 1890 | 0.25 |
| 1900 | 0.21 |
| 1910 | 0.19 |
| 1920 | 0.18 |
| 1930 | 0.051 |
| 1940 | 0.056 |
| 1950 | 0.057 |
| 1960 | 0.06 |
| 1970 | 0.065 |
| 1980 | 0.071 |
| 1990 | 0.073 |
| 2000 | 0.072 |
| 2010 | 0.067 |
How is the word Zanzibari pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
East African English
Where does the word Zanzibari come from?
Earliest known use
1880s
The earliest known use of the word Zanzibari is in the 1880s.
OED's earliest evidence for Zanzibari is from 1882, in the Irish Times.
From a proper name, combined with an English element.
Etymons: proper name Zanzibar, ‑i suffix2.
Nearby entries
- zanily, adv.1936–
- zaniness, n.1933–
- Zante, n.1615–
- Zantedeschia, n.1836–
- ZANU, n.1963–
- zany, n. & adj.1582–
- zany, v.1602–1894
- zanyish, adj.1843–
- zanyism, n.1823–
- zanyship, n.1766–1839
- Zanzibari, n. & adj.1882–
- zap, n.1968–
- zap, v.1942–
- zap, int.1929–
- Zapata, n.1962–
- zapateado, n.1845–
- Zapatism, n.1911–
- Zapatismo, n.1913–
- Zapatist, n. & adj.1911–
- Zapatista, n. & adj.1911–
- zapote, n.1842–
Etymology
Summary
Notes
- 1630
The whole world,..to the farthest Cafrians, Zanzibarians, and the Inhabitants of the Cape Bonæ Spei.
J. Squire, Plaine Expos. Epist. to Thessalonians xxvii. 742
Meaning & use
- noun
- 1882–A native or inhabitant of the island of Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa.A former British colony, Zanzibar became an independent nation in 1963. It united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form Tanzania. Cf. Tanzanian n.
- 1882
He made the ascent of the Congo in 1879 with 15 Europeans and 68 Zanzibaris and some Kabundas.
Irish Times 24 October 4/6 - 1985
Zanzibaris with foreign exchange were allowed to import essential goods.
Daily Telegraph 20 August 4/7 - 2015
We are Zanzibari, discussing the issues of Zanzibar for the benefits of Zanzibari.
Z. Babaci-White, Lang., Devel. Aid & Human Rights in Education 106
the world people nations native or inhabitant of Africa native or inhabitant of East Africa [nouns] countries or regions- Mozambiquer1803–A native or inhabitant of Mozambique; = Mozambican, n.
- Muganda1863–A member of the Ganda (or Baganda) people; a native or inhabitant of the kingdom of Buganda on the north-west shore of Lake Victoria, now part of…
- Zanzibari1882–A native or inhabitant of the island of Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa.
- Rwanda1889–With plural agreement. The Rwanda people.
- Tonga1891–A member of a Bantu-speaking people of Malawi.
- Ugandan1893–A native or inhabitant of Uganda.
- Eritrean1902–A native or inhabitant of Eritrea.
- Tanganyikan1906–A native or inhabitant of Tanganyika. Cf. Tanzanian, n.
- White Highlander1921–An inhabitant of the White Highlands in western Kenya; cf. White Highlands, n.
- Rwandan1926–A native or inhabitant of Rwanda, a republic in East Africa founded in 1961, or of the kingdom that preceded it.
- Kenyan1930–A native or inhabitant of Kenya, a country in East Africa.
- Uganda Asian1948–A Ugandan of South Asian origin or descent; = Ugandan Asian, n.
- assimilado1953–In the former Portuguese colonies of Africa: an African who has been admitted to Portuguese citizenship. Also attributive.
- Kenya Asian1953–A Kenyan of South Asian origin or descent; = Kenyan Asian, n.
- Rwandese1955–With plural agreement: Rwandans collectively. With singular agreement: a Rwandan.
- Burundian1962–A native or inhabitant of Burundi.
- Kenyan Asian1963–A Kenyan of South Asian origin or descent; = Kenya Asian n. at Kenya, n. 2.
- Malawian1963–A native or inhabitant of Malawi.
- Ugandan Asian1963–A Ugandan of South Asian origin or descent; = Uganda Asian n. at Uganda, n. 2
- Tanzanian1964–A native or inhabitant of Tanzania, a country in East Africa formed by the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964.
- Malawi1966–= Malawian, n.
- Mozambican1971–A native or inhabitant of Mozambique.
- adjective
- 1884–Of, belonging to, or relating to Zanzibar or its inhabitants.
- 1884
The author travelled in boats or in small land parties, accompanied by his three faithful Zanzibari servants.
Athenæum 26 April 531/1 - 1975
Towering above all a tree bearing tiny reddish buds—the famous cloves, basis of the Zanzibari economy.
National Geographic April 501/1 - 2018
The Emerson's Zanzibar Foundation Music Award..is an important part of the ongoing legacy of the visionary Emerson Skeens, whose contributions to Zanzibari culture are incalculable.
Citizen (Tanzania) (Nexis) 23 February
- Nigritian1757–Originally: of, relating to, or characteristic of Nigritia. Also more generally, and in later use: black African or African American.
- Sudanic1802–Of, belonging to, or relating to Sudan or its inhabitants; spec. to a proposed family of languages spoken in the Sahelian region of Africa, which…
- Sudanese1853–Of, belonging to, or relating to Sudan or its inhabitants.
- Mozambican1875–Of or relating to Mozambique or its inhabitants.
- Nigerian1876–Of or relating to Nigeria or its inhabitants.
- Zanzibari1884–Of, belonging to, or relating to Zanzibar or its inhabitants.
- Rhodesian1892–Of, relating to, or from Rhodesia (see etymological note).
- Lagosian1894–Of or relating to Lagos; (also) designating a person born or living in Lagos.
- Chadian1960–Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Chad or its people.
- Katangese1962–Of, relating to, or belonging to Katanga. Cf. Congolese, n. & adj.
- Tanzanian1964–Of, belonging to, or relating to Tanzania or its inhabitants.
- Namibian1968–Of or relating to Namibia or its inhabitants.
- Malawian1970–Of or relating to Malawi or its inhabitants.
- Zairean1973–Of or relating to Zaire.
- Zairois1973–= Zairean, n. & adj.
- Zairese1974–= Zairean, n. & adj. Cf. Zairois, n. & adj.
the world people nations native or inhabitant of Africa native or inhabitant of East Africa [adjectives] countries or regions- East African1806–Of, belonging to, or relating to the eastern parts of Africa, esp. the region including Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
- Muganda1863–Of or relating to the Ganda (or Baganda) people.
- Ugandan1877–Of, belonging to, or relating to Uganda or its inhabitants.
- Zanzibari1884–Of, belonging to, or relating to Zanzibar or its inhabitants.
- Tumbuka1891–Of, belonging to, or relating to the Tumbuka or their language.
- Tonga1893–Of, belonging to, or relating to the Tonga of Malawi or their language.
- Burundian1907–Of, belonging to, or relating to Burundi or its inhabitants.
- Rwandese1959–= Rwandan, adj.
- Malawi1960–= Malawian, adj.
- Rwandan1960–Of or relating to Rwanda or its people.
- Malawian1970–Of or relating to Malawi or its inhabitants.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
East African English
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
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
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
Frequency
Zanzibari typically occurs about 0.07 times per million words in modern written English.
Zanzibari 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 of Zanzibari, n. & adj., 1880–2010
* 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 |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 0.3 |
| 1890 | 0.25 |
| 1900 | 0.21 |
| 1910 | 0.19 |
| 1920 | 0.18 |
| 1930 | 0.051 |
| 1940 | 0.056 |
| 1950 | 0.057 |
| 1960 | 0.06 |
| 1970 | 0.065 |
| 1980 | 0.071 |
| 1990 | 0.073 |
| 2000 | 0.072 |
| 2010 | 0.067 |