A Zulu and Xhosa word for a white person, used across South African languages and now part of South African English. Originally a neutral descriptor, it has acquired complex connotations in the context of South Africa's racial history. It is often used matter-of-factly in South African conversation but can carry derogatory or ironic tones depending on who is saying it, to whom, and in what context.
She was the only umlungu at the tavern and everyone was perfectly friendly, but she still felt conspicuous.
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Umlungu is a Zulu and Xhosa word used in South Africa to refer to a white person, functioning in much the same register as 'mzungu' in East Africa. While it can be neutral and descriptive, it is often perceived as loaded depending on tone, context, and speaker, and is frequently noted as potentially derogatory. It is commonly heard in South African everyday speech and occasionally appears in casual conversation or political commentary. Non-South African audiences may encounter it in literature, music, or journalism covering the country.
Growing up in Soweto, he said he rarely saw an umlungu in his neighbourhood until the property developers arrived.
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(South Africa, often, derogatory) A white person.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.