zu - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Clipping of English Zulu or abbreviation of Zulu umZulu.

zu

1. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Zulu.

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Zulu terms
• dzu

zu

1. water
2. fermented rice beer

• Visier Sanyu, A history of Nagas and Nagaland (1996, →ISBN, page 51 (zu, rice beer)
• Robert Gordon Latham, Elements of Comparative Philology, page 31 (Angami wordlist) (zu, water)
• The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia (James Richardson Logan), volume 10 (1970) (Angami zu, water; mentions dzu)

Inherited from Proto-Basque *zu, originally a second-person plural pronoun. Over time, it came to be used as a polite second-person singular pronoun; while hi went from being a general second-person singular pronoun to a strictly informal one. In all the written record it appears as a singular pronoun, but it might have survived as a plural pronoun up to the nineteenth century in parts of Biscay.[1]

• IPA(key): /s̻u/ [s̻u]

• IPA(key): (most dialects) /s̻u/ [s̻u]

• IPA(key): (Biscayan) /s̺u/ [s̺u]

• Rhymes: -u

• Hyphenation: zu

zu (emphatic forms zeu, zuhaur, zerori)

1. Second-person singular personal pronoun; you

Declension of zu

• zeu

Basque personal pronouns

| | singular | plural | | | | | | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | plain | emphatic | plain | emphatic | | | | 1st person | ni | neu, nihaur, nerau | gu | geu, guhaur, gerok | | | 2nd person | familiar | hi | heu, hihaur, herori | zuek | zeuek, zuhauek, zerok | | neutral | zu | zeu, zuhaur, zerori | | | | | 3rd person | use demonstrative and anaphoric pronouns | | | | |

1. ^ R. L. Trask (2008), “zu”, in Max W. Wheeler, editor, Etymological Dictionary of Basque, University of Sussex, page 379

• “zu”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “zu”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005
• zů (obsolete)

From a spelling merger of two interrelated adpreps: 1.) Middle High German ze, from Old High German za, zi, from Proto-Germanic *ta; and 2.) Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-West Germanic *tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō.

A distinction between both words has widely been retained in dialects, and also to some degree in modern spoken German (see pronunciation section below). Cognate with Silesian East Central German zu (contractions with the definite article: zum m or n, zur f); Dutch te, toe; Old Saxon tō; English to, too.

• IPA(key): /t͡suː/ (standard)
• IPA(key): /t͡sə/ (variant in colloquial speech; chiefly with infinitives (particle) and adjectives (meaning “too”))
• Rhymes: -uː

zu [_with_ dative]

1. to, towards (indicates directionality)
   zum Bahnhof ― to the train station
2. with respect to; regarding
   Zu Punkt 1 möchte ich bemerken, dass...
   With respect to item 1, let me remark that...
3. along with; with (accompanying (the main thing in question))
   Wasser zum Essen trinken ― to drink water with one’s meal
4. at, on (indicates location)
   zu Hause ― at home
5. at (indicates time)
   zur richtigen Zeit ― at the right time
   zu Beginn ― at the beginning
6. by, in, on, at (indicates mode (of transportation, speech, etc.))
   zu Pferde ― on horseback
7. (with a verb) for; (with a noun) as, by way of (for the purpose of)
8. for (in honor of, or directed towards the celebration or event of)
9. into (indicates transition into another form or substance)
10. as, for, to be (to take on the role of)
11. to (used to indicate ratios)
12. at (denotes a price or rate)

The template Template:de-pronadv-table does not use the parameter(s):

prep=zu

Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.

• (zu + dem) zum m or n

• (zu + der) zur f

• (zu + den) zun pl (obsolete)

• bis zu

• zu Fuß

• zu Fuss

• zu Hause

• zu Herzen nehmen

• zu Recht

• Zuhause

• zuhause

zu

1. (with infinitives of verbs) to
   etwas zu essen ― something to eat
   nichts zu tun haben ― to have nothing to do
2. (with uninflected ordinals) in a group of (a certain head count)
   zu zweit ― as a pair, in a group of two
   Wir waren zu zehnt. ― We were a group of ten. / There were ten of us.

• zu zweit
• zu dritt
• zu viert
• zu fünft
• zu sechst
• zu siebt
• zu acht
• zu neunt
• zu zehnt

zu

1. (with adjectives and adverbs) too (excessively)
   zu schnell ― too fast
2. (by extension, slang) An intensifier.
   Dieses Essen ist zu lecker! ― This food tastes so good!
3. towards; at
4. (somewhat informal) shut; closed; locked
   Synonym: geschlossen
   Antonyms: auf, offen, geöffnet
5. ahead, on (along, forwards (continuing an action))
6. (colloquial) As a separated part of dazu or wozu
   "Wann willst du denn los?"
   "Um 10? Nur wenn du da Lust zu hast."
   "When did you wanna go?"
   "At 10? Only if you're up for it."

(intensifier): Always stressed. Compare English so (“very much”).

• zumachen
• zuschließen
• zuschliessen

zu (indeclinable, predicative only)

1. (somewhat informal) shut, closed (made inaccessible or impassable; not open)
   Synonym: geschlossen
   Das Geschäft war zu.
   The shop was closed.
   Die Tür muss aus Brandschutzgründen immer zu sein.
   This door must be shut at all times for reasons of fire safety.
   Die Tür ist zu, ich komm nicht rein.
   The door is locked, I can’t get in there.
2. closed (not operating or conducting trade)
3. done up (fastened)
4. (slang) hammered; very drunk

Informally, attributive declined forms occur:

• 1912, Ludwig Rubiner, “Der Dichter greift in die Politik”, in Deutsche Literatur von Lessing bis Kafka, Berlin: Directmedia Publisher GmbH, published 2000, page 143358:
  Frauen lassen sich mit zuen Augen und wirren Armen ins Wasser fallen
  Women drop themselves into the water with closed eyes and confused arms
• 2013 February 23, DerHerrGott, Porter Maximum Alternative Rock‎[3], archived from the original on 26-11-2025:
  dank seiner völlig zuen Nase und einer extrem röchelnden Stimme nur äußerst schwer zu dechiffrierenden
  exceedingly hard to decipher thanks to his completely blocked nose and an extremely hoarse voice

Indeclinable, predicative-only.

• heutzutage

• zu haben

• zuerst

• Zugang

• zumindest

• zunächst

• zurecht-

• zurück

• zusammen

• Zustand

• zuvörderst

• Zuwachs

• “zu”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[4] (in German)

• Friedrich Kluge (1883), “zu”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891

From Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-West Germanic *tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō, from Proto-Indo-European *de.

• IPA(key): /ˈt͡suː/
• Rhymes: -uː
• Syllabification: zu

zu (comparative zuner, superlative zunest)

1. closed

zu

1. closed
   Die Deer waar zu.
   The door was closed.
2. too; overly

zu [_with_ dative]

1. to (in the direction of)
   Er hod zu seiner Mutter gesprung.
   He ran to his mother.
2. by (using the means of)
   Sie gehd zu Fus
   She goes by foot.

• Boll, Piter Kehoma (2021), “zu”, in Dicionário Hunsriqueano Riograndense–Português, 3rd edition (overall work in Portuguese), Ivoti: Riograndenser Hunsrickisch, page 181, columns 1–2

zu

1. The hiragana syllable ず (zu) or the katakana syllable ズ (zu) in Hepburn romanization.
2. The hiragana syllable づ (zu) or the katakana syllable ヅ (zu) in Hepburn romanization.

• zo (Western)
• zõ (Northeastern)
• j̈õ (Southeastern)

From Proto-Nuristani *j̈ānu, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *ȷ́ā́nu, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵónu.[1]

zu m (Western (Ktivi))[2][3]

1. knee

2. ^ Halfmann, Jakob (2025). The Diversification of Indo-Iranian and the Position of the Nuristani Languages. Wiesbaden: Reichert.

3. ^ Strand, Richard F. (2016), “z′u˜”, in Nûristânî Etymological Lexicon‎[1]

4. ^ Halfmann, Jakob (2024). A Grammatical Description of the Katë Language (Nuristani) (PhD thesis). Köln: Universität zu Köln.

From Proto-Nuristani *j̈ara.[1]

zu m (Western, Northeastern)[2][3]

1. milk

• j̈u (Southeastern)

1. ^ Halfmann, Jakob (2025). The Diversification of Indo-Iranian and the Position of the Nuristani Languages. Wiesbaden: Reichert.
2. ^ Strand, Richard F. (2016), “z′u”, in Nûristânî Etymological Lexicon‎[2]
3. ^ Halfmann, Jakob (2024). A Grammatical Description of the Katë Language (Nuristani) (PhD thesis). Köln: Universität zu Köln.

zu

1. water

• J. A. Z'Graggen, 1980, A comparative word list of the Northern Adelbert Range Languages, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, p.80, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics

zu

1. to fly

Reduced form of zou, from Middle High German zuo, from Old High German zuo, from Proto-Germanic *tō.

• IPA(key): /t͡su/

zu (+ dative)

1. at, in
   Ech wunnen zu Réiden. ― I live in Redange.
2. with respect to, regarding
3. for (the purpose of)
   Dat Blietchen ass nëmmen zu denger Informatioun. ― The leaflet is just for your information.
4. (rare) to, towards

• The adverbial form of zu, used e.g., in compound verbs, is zou.
• With the singular forms of the definite article, zu may contract to zum (zu dem) and zur (zu der).
• (towards): bäi; op
• zum
• zur
• ze
• zou

zu

1. (when stressed) alternative form of ze (“too”)
   Dat ass net nëmme vill, dat ass zu vill.
   It’s not just much, it’s too much.

zu

1. nonstandard spelling of zū
2. nonstandard spelling of zú
3. nonstandard spelling of zǔ
4. nonstandard spelling of zù

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *yuu.

zu

1. liquor, alcohol

• Lorrain, J. Herbert (1940), “zu”, in Dictionary of the Lushai language, Calcutta: Asiatic Society

Pennsylvania German

[edit]

Compare German zu, Dutch te, English to.

zu

1. at, to

• ziu
• IPA(key): /t͡sʊ/, [t͡sʊ]
• Hyphenation: zu

zu

1. alternative form of ziu
   Ou, cucì, ti saluta u zu Ninu. ― Hey, bro, “uncle” Ninu greets you.

Uncertain. Compare for more zùdiu.

• IPA(key): /ˈt͡su/, [ˈt͡su]
• Hyphenation: zu

zu

1. (South-east of Sicily) Used to express astonishment, awe, amazement; exclamation at a sudden discovery.
   Zu! ― Wow!
2. (South-east of Sicily, invocational) Prefixed as an exclamation in immediate and laconic vocative.
   Zu, lu porcu! ― No way, you're [like] a pig!
   Zu, lu jencu! ― No way, you're [like] a bullock!
   Zu, lu crastu! ― No way, you're [like] a ram!
   Zu, lu bestia! ― No way, you're rough!

• This kind of interjection is colloquial, local and barely translatable. It can be vaguely approximated to English “_Hey, you behave like an _”, in a context of speakers who know the stereotyped characteristics of that given animal.

• It can express a wide range of feelings and meanings, depending on the context.

• Generally perceived as vulgar by Sicilians who do not speak this south-eastern dialect variant.

• avaja

• avà

• buì

• ippì

• ivì

• marvaja

• puì

zu

1. romanization of 𒍪 (zu)

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

	This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

zu (Tifinagh spelling ⵣⵓ)

1. (intransitive) to bark
   aqzin itzu, issaggʷad ixewwanen ― the dog barks, it frightens the thieves
   aqzin itzun wa yzeɛɛef ― a barking dog does not bite (proverb)

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

• (verbal noun) tzut (“barking”)

zu

1. in addition