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Subject: Confirmation of the existence of a Zulu word Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:49 pm
Hi Can someone in RSA help me out? What in Zulu is the female equivalent of 'iNkosi'? I have a letter in which a white female settler is addressed (I think) by a Zulu using the term 'Nkoozan' or something very close to it spelling-wise and I think it must mean 'madam' or 'mistress' or something similar. Can anyone confirm that such a word exists? Thanks in advance.
24th
Posts : 1852 Join date : 2009-03-25
Subject: Re: Confirmation of the existence of a Zulu word Fri Nov 25, 2016 9:08 pm
Subject: Re: Confirmation of the existence of a Zulu word Sat Nov 26, 2016 6:06 am
"inkosazana" is the word for an unmarried woman. It is seen used as a forename for one of President Zuma's ex-wives. She is predicted to replace him as President, so the word may yet become well-known outside South Africa. Brett
barry
Posts : 928 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay
Subject: Zulu Translation Sat Nov 26, 2016 6:18 am
Hi JW, Indeed those words in the Zulu language still exist. Spellings may vary a little with, principally s's and z's interchanging depending on which dialect or sub set it is used, ie Zulu, Xhosa and Ndbele languages which are very similar. The opposite of iNkosi, denoting king, is queen or Ndlovukazi, ie female elephant ,if iNkosi is used in that context. However if it refers to the male head of household , the female would be iNkosikazi,... kazi denoting female of course. Now specifically to the question of Nkosizane. This denotes a female in a household, ie the senior unmarried female child of the iNkosi. Some other titles;
mistress ; senkosikazi. young women ; ntombi daughter ; indodakazi man ; indoda lord ; nkosi child ; umtwana sir ; mnumzane son ; indodana wife ; inkosikazi god ; nkulankulu post pubescent teenage son ; kwenkwe ( Xhosa) pre pubescent male child ; umfaan (wagon voerlooper ( Afrik ) or herd boy) boys ; bafana husband ; umyeni
regards
barry
Last edited by barry on Sat Nov 26, 2016 5:29 pm; edited 1 time in total
Julian Whybra
Posts : 2394 Join date : 2011-09-12
Subject: Re: Confirmation of the existence of a Zulu word Sat Nov 26, 2016 10:09 am
Inkosazana - that would be it. First-born unmarried woman. I'm very grateful to you all. When used in speech, addressing someone, is there a vocative case for the noun which would alter the word ending or does it stay as Inkosazana regardless of use? Sorry to be a pain, I'm trying to fit the word to how it is quoted in the letter.
barry
Posts : 928 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay
Subject: Zulu translation Sat Nov 26, 2016 11:08 am
Hi JW, Correct, in face to face address the vocative would apply and the word would become iNkosizaan, ie 2 x a at the end and not ana.
regards
Barry
Julian Whybra
Posts : 2394 Join date : 2011-09-12
Subject: Re: Confirmation of the existence of a Zulu word Sat Nov 26, 2016 4:40 pm
Brilliant Barry! That's what I've got written! Much gratitude.
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