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Glite Dictionary
Matabele

Matabele

9.9
A language spoken in Zimbabwe that is like Zulu
  • noun
: matabele
  • Some historians document oral traditions in both Matabele and English.

Examples

  • The Matabele language has many similarities to Zulu.

  • She speaks Matabele fluently.

  • Linguists have noted that Matabele shares many characteristics with Zulu.

  • She is studying Matabele as part of her research on southern African languages.

  • The Matabele language has many similarities to Zulu, making it easier for Zulu speakers to understand.

  • Many people in Zimbabwe still speak the Matabele language at home, preserving their cultural heritage.

  • Linguists are conducting research on how the Matabele language influences local dialects in Zimbabwe.

Synonyms

Ndebele
vsMatabele
1 9.8

A language spoken in Zimbabwe and South Africa similar to Zulu

is specific to Zimbabwe rather than the wider southern Africa area

Surface Forms

Matabele singular
Matabele plural

Etymology

The word Matabele comes from the local name amaNdebele, which means 'the Ndebele people', and English speakers borrowed that name for the group's speech. That's why Matabele refers to the Ndebele language, which is closely related to Zulu.