Zulu, v.

zulu
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zulu_v%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2023

# Zuluverb

## Factsheet

### What does the verb Zulu mean?

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

### How is the verb Zulu pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzuːluː/
ZOO-loo

#### U.S. English

/ˈzulu/
ZOO-loo

### Where does the verb Zulu come from?

Earliest known use

1880s

The earliest known use of the verb Zulu is in the 1880s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zulu is from 1882, in the writing of P. Robinson.

It is also recorded as a noun from the 1820s.

Zulu is formed within English, by conversion.

Etymons: Zulu n.

### Nearby entries

1. zucchini, n. 1916–
2. zuche, n. 1358–1676
3. Zuckerkandl, n. 1910–
4. zufolo, n. 1724–
5. zug, n. 1899–
6. zugtrompete, n. 1978–
7. Zugunruhe, n. 1950–
8. Zugzwang, n. 1904–
9. zule | zulis, n. 1780–
10. Zulu, n. & adj. 1824–
11. Zulu, v.1882–
12. Zuludom, n. 1867–
13. Zulu hat, n. 1879–
14. Zuluize, v. 1852–
15. Zulu time, n. 1959–
16. zumbador, n. 1758–64
17. zumbi, n. 1704–
18. zumboorukchee, n. 1840–
19. Zuñi, n. 1834–
20. zunyite, n. 1885–
21. zuppa, n. 1961–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by conversion.
< Zulu n.

## Meaning & use

1. 1882–
   intransitive, and transitive with it as object. To behave in a manner considered characteristic or reminiscent of a Zulu.
   In quot. 1882 with allusion to the persistence of a Zulu monarchy with British territory in Southern Africa.
   Only in occasional, ad hoc use.
   1. 1882

      > The lion, again, they say, is King in Africa, yet the gorilla Zulus it over the forests within the lion's territory.

      P. Robinson, Noah's Ark i. 7
   2. 2020

      > Just another of Zulu people Zuluing!!

      @Nonny_Mpata 14 March in twitter.com (accessed 13 Sept. 2022)

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzuːluː/
ZOO-loo

### U.S. English

/ˈzulu/
ZOO-loo

####

##### 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.

####

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

Originally published as part of the entry for Zulu, n. & adj.

Zulu, v. was revised in March 2023.

Zulu, v. was last modified in September 2023.