inkosi
/ínkôːsi/class 5, class 6
The Zulu word for king is inkosi.
The word inkosi is used not only for a monarch but also more broadly for a chief or a leader of a group.
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun in class 1/11 or 5/6, inkosi can be used with different prefixes depending on the grammatical context of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/ínkôːsi/
Did you know?
- In Zulu culture, the king is often referred to as isilo, a word that literally means 'beast' or 'wild animal'.
- The word inkosi is used in Zulu Christian liturgy to refer to 'the Lord' or 'God'.
- The term inkosi is used in certain contexts as a respectful way to address a stranger, similar to 'sir' in English.
Example sentences for Zulu are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Bandile and Nomalusa are discussing a local historical trip.
- BandileSizovakashela inkosi ngasonto.We will visit the king on Sunday.
- NomalusaKuzoba mnandi ukuhlangana naye.It will be nice to meet him.
- BandileInkosi isizama emzini wakhe.The king welcomes us to his home.
- NomalusaNgilindele lokho, Bandile.I am looking forward to that, Bandile.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations and entries inkosi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
