Mzungu (pronounced [m̩ˈzuŋɡu]), also known as muzungu, mlungu, musunguormusongo, is a Bantu word that means "wanderer" originally pertaining to the first European explorers to the East African region whom the local tribes thought were traveling aimlessly with no goals to settle, conquer or trade, like restless spirits - the initial explorers who unbeknownst to the local tribes, were taxed with mapping the area, travel and trade routes, key landmarks like the source of the river Nile as well as documenting dominant kingdoms and forging some alliances that were then later used by missionaries and colonialists in their conquest.
The term is currently used in predominantly Swahili speaking nations to refer to foreign people dating back to 18th century. The noun Mzungu or its variants are used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mayotte, Zambia and in Northern Madagascar (the word changed to "vozongo" in Malagasy, but locals will still understand the word mzungu) dating back to the 18th century.
Literally translated mzungu meant "someone who roams around" or "wanderer."[1] The term was first used in Africa to describe Arab, Indian and European traders and explorers in the 18th century, apparently because they moved around aimlessly. The word mzungu comes from Kiswahili, where zunguorzunguka is the word for spinning around on the same spot. Kizunguzungu is Kiswahili for dizziness.[2] The term is now used to refer to "someone with white skin" or "white skin", but can be used to refer to all foreigners more generally.[3] The word mzungu in Swahili can also mean someone who speaks English.[4]
The possessive kizungu (orchizungu) translates as "behaving rich". However, in some areas, such as in Rwanda and Burundi, it does not necessarily refer to the colour of one's skin. Traditionally, Europeans were seen to be people of means and rich and so the terminology was extended to denote affluent persons regardless of race. It would therefore not be unusual to find any employer being referred to as mzungu. In the Bantu Swahili language, the plural form of mzunguiswazungu.[5][6][7] The plural form may be used to confer a respect, such as the use of the term azungu to refer to individual foreigners in Malawi's Chichewa language.[8][9] The possessive kizungu (orchizungu) translated literally means "of the wanderers". It has now come to mean "language of the wanderers" and more commonly English, as it is the language most often used by wazungu in the African Great Lakes area. However it can be used generally for any European language. Wachizungu, bachizungu, etc. – literally "wandering people" – have come to mean people who adopt the Western culture, cuisine and lifestyle.
Mzungu can be used in an affectionate or insulting way. It is used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi Zimbabwe and Burundi. It is often called out by children to get the attention of a passerby.[10][11][12] For example, in Malawi, it is common for people to use the casual greeting Azungu boh! to individuals or groups of foreigners.[8]
| Language | Singular | Plural | Possessive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swahili in the African Great Lakes | Mzungu | Wazungu | Kizungu |
| ShikomoriinComoros | Mzungu | Wazungu | Chizungu |
| LugandainUganda | oMuzungu | aBazungu | Kizungu |
| ChichewainMalawi | Mzungu | Azungu | Chizungu |
| ChinyanjainZambia | Mzungu | Bazungu | Chizungu |
| KikuyuinKenya | Mūthūngū | Athūngū | Gīthūngū |
| KinyarwandainRwanda / KirundiinBurundi | Umuzungu | Abazungu | ikizungu |
| BembainZambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo | Musungu | Basungu | Chisungu |
| Kisii languageinKenya | Omusongo | Abasongo | Ebisongo |
| SenainMozambique | Muzungu | Azungu | |
| ShonainZimbabwe | Murungu | Varungu | Chirungu |
| isiZuluinSouth Africa | Umlungu | Abelungu | Isilungu |
| ikiRuguruinTanzania | Imzungu | Iwazungu |
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Terms for Europeans and people of European descent
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