ingane
/ínɡáːne/class 10, class 9
The Zulu word for baby is ingane. Wiktionary also lists usana class 11/10.
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Zulu | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ingane | /ínɡáːne/ | class 10, class 9 |
| usana class 11/10 |
The term refers to a very young human being.
Which one should you use?
While ingane can mean a child or an infant, usana specifically refers to a very young baby or a newborn.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ingane is izingane.
How do you pronounce it?
/ínɡáːne/
Did you know?
- Because ingane is used broadly, calling someone an ingane can sometimes be used colloquially to call someone a 'child' or 'immature' in an argument.
- When speaking to a baby, Zulu speakers often use a specific high-pitched, rhythmic melodic pattern that differs significantly from standard adult conversation.
- The word ingane is often used in a broader kinship sense to refer to any offspring, regardless of whether they are an infant or an adult.
Examples in context
- Ngikhumbula isana lakho.I miss your baby.
- Ingane le iyahleka.This baby is laughing.
- Sifuna ingane esencane.We want a small baby.
Example conversation
Bandile and Nomalusa are looking at a photo of a newborn.
- BandileBheka le ingane!Look at this baby!
- NomalusaIyi-ngane enhle kakhulu.It is a very beautiful baby.
- BandileUbani owayizala le ingane?Who gave birth to this baby?
- NomalusaNgumelamu wakhe.It is his sister.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries ingane, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
