ubusuku
/úɓusûːɠu/class 14
The Zulu word for "night" is ubusuku.
ubusuku refers to the period of time between sunset and sunrise.
Meaning: period between sunset and sunrise (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the phrase "at night", you can use the adverbial form ebusuku by adding the locative prefix e- to the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/úɓusûːɠu/
Did you know?
- The Zulu word ubusuku is a descendant of the Proto-Bantu root *bʊ̀cúkʊ̀, linking it to hundreds of other languages across Central and Southern Africa.
- The Zulu noun class prefix ubu- used in ubusuku is also used for abstract concepts like 'humanity' ubuntu, linking the time of night to a broader category of abstract states.
- In Zulu-speaking cultures, the concept of 'night' is often a time of storytelling where the transition from ubusuku to dawn is marked by specific oral traditions.
Example sentences for Zulu are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Thulani and Nomusa are saying goodbye at the end of a social gathering.
- ThulaniHamba kahle, Nomusa.Go well, Nomusa.
- NomusaNgiyabonga, Thulani.Thank you, Thulani.
- ThulaniUbusuku obumnandi.Have a pleasant night.
- NomusaNawe ubusuku obuhle.A good night to you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “night” translations and entries ubusuku, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ubusuku, CC BY-SA 4.0.
