Confirmation of the existence of a Zulu word

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.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Julian this may hold the answer.

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Posts : 269 Join date : 2010-12-02 Location : Kloof, KZN

"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

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

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

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.

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

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

Brilliant Barry!
That's what I've got written!
Much gratitude.

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