zu

See also: Appendix:Variations of "zu"

Translingual

Symbol

zu

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

Angami

Alternative forms

• dzu

Noun

zu

1. water
2. fermented rice beer

References

• 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)

Basque

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /s̻u/, [s̻u]

Pronoun

zu

1. Second-person singular personal pronoun; you

Declension

Declension of Basque personal pronouns

Common pronouns
	singular				plural
	1st person	2nd person (informal)	2nd person (neutral)		1st person	2nd person
absolutive	ni	hi	zu		gu	zuek
ergative	nik	hik	zuk		guk
dative	niri	hiri	zuri		guri	zuei
genitive	nire, ene	hire	zure		gure	zuen
comitative	nirekin, enekin	hirekin	zurekin		gurekin	zuekin
causative	nigatik, niregatik, enegatik	higatik, hiregatik	zugatik, zuregatik		gugatik, guregatik	zuengatik
benefactive	niretzat, niretako, enetzat,enetako	hiretzat, hiretako	zuretzat, zuretako		guretzat, guretako	zuentzat, zuendako
instrumental	nitaz	hitaz	zutaz		gutaz	zuetaz
inessive	nigan, niregan, nire baitan, nitan, enegan, ene baitan	higan, hiregan, hire baitan, hitan	zugan, zuregan, zure baitan, zutan		gugan, guregan, gure baitan, gutan	zuengan, zuen baitan, zuetan
locative	nire baitako, ene baitako	hire baitako	gu baitako, gure baitako		zu baitako, zure baitako	zuen baitako
allative	niregana, nireganat, nire baitara, nire baitarat, enegana, eneganat, ene baitara, ene baitarat	hiregana, hireganat, hire baitara, hire baitarat	zugana, zuregana, zuganat, zureganat, zu baitara, zure baitara, zu baitarat, zure baitarat		gugana, guregana, guganat, gureganat, gu baitara, gure baitara, gu baitarat, gure baitarat	zuengana, zuenganat, zuen baitara, zuen baitarat
terminative	nireganaino, nire baitaraino, eneganaino	higanaino, hireganaino, hire baitaraino	zuganaino, zureganaino, zu baitaraino, zure baitaraino		guganaino, gureganaino, gu baitaraino, gure baitaraino	zuenganaino, zuen baitaraino
directive	niganantz, nireganantz, eneganantz	higanantz, hireganantz	zuganantz, zureganantz		guganantz, gureganantz	zuenganantz
destinative	niganako, nireganako, eneganako	higanako, hireganako	zuganako, zureganako		guganako, gureganako	zuenganako
ablative	nireganik, niregandik, nire baitatik, nire baitarik, eneganik, enegandik, ene baitatik, ene baitarik	higanik, hireganik, higandik, hiregandik, hire baitatik, hire baitarik	zuganik, zureganik, zugandik, zuregandik, zu baitatik, zu baitarik, zure baitatik, zure baitarik		guganik, gureganik, gugandik, guregandik, gu baitatik, gu baitarik, gure baitatik, gure baitarik	zuenganik, zuengandik, zuen baitatik, zuen baitarik
Emphatic pronouns
absolutive	neu	heu	zeu		geu	zeuek
ergative	neuk	heuk	zeuk		geuk
dative	neuri	heuri	zeuri		geuri	zeuei
genitive	neure	heure	zeure		geure	zeuen
comitative	neurekin	heurekin	zeurekin		geurekin	zeuekin
causative	neugatik, neuregatik	heugatik, heuregatik	zugatik, zuregatik		gugatik, guregatik	zuengatik
benefactive	neuretzat, neuretako	heuretzat, heuretako	zeuretzat, zeuretako		geuretzat, geuretako	zeuentzat, zeuendako
instrumental	neutaz	heutaz	zeutaz		geutaz	zeuetaz
inessive	neugan	heuregan, heure baitan	zeugan, zeuregan		geugan, geuregan	zeuengan
locative	neure baitako	heure baitako	zeure baitako		geure baitako	zeuen baitako
allative	neuregana	heugana, heuregana, heure baitara, heure baitarat	zeugana, zeuregana		geugana, geuregana	zeuengana
terminative	neuregaino	heuganaino, heureganaino, heure baitaraino	zeuganaino, zeureganaino		geuganaino, geureganaino	zeuenganaino
directive	neuganantz	heuganantz, heureganantz	zeuganantz, zeureganantz		geuganantz, geureganantz	zeuenganantz
destinative	neureganako	heuganako, heureganako	zeuganako, zeureganako		geuganako, geureganako	zeuenganako
ablative	neuganik, neugandik	heuganik, heureganik, heugandik, heuregandik, heure baitatik, heure baitarik	zeuganik, zeureganik, zeugandik, zeuregandik		geuganik, geureganik, geugandik, geuregandik	zeuenganik, zeuengandik

Related terms

• zeu

Further reading

• “zu”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy], Euskaltzaindia
• “zu”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

German

Alternative forms

• zů (obsolete)

Etymology

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-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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡suː/ (standard)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio:

  (file)

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

Preposition

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 Pferd ― 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)

Derived terms

• (zu + dem) zum m or n
• (zu + der) zur f
• (zu + den) zun pl (obsolete)

• bis zu
• zu Fuß
• zu Fuss
• zu Hause
• zuhause
• Zuhause
• zu Herzen nehmen
• zu Recht

 

Particle

zu

1. (with infinitives of verbs) to

   etwas zu essen ― something to eat

Adverb

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."

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

• zumachen
• zuschließen
• zuschliessen

 

Adjective

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

Declension

Indeclinable, predicative-only.

Related terms

• heutzutage
• zuerst
• Zugang
• zu haben
• zumindest
• zunächst
• zurecht-
• zurück
• zusammen
• Zustand
• zuvörderst
• Zuwachs

 

Further reading

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

Hunsrik

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

zu (comparative zuner, superlative zunest)

1. closed

Declension

Declension of zu (see also Appendix:Hunsrik adjectives)
		masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
Weak inflection	nominative	zu	zu	zu	zuune
	accusative	zuune	zu	zu	zuune
	dative	zuune	zuune	zuune	zuune
Strong inflection	nominative	zuuner	zuune	zuunes	zuune
	accusative	zuune	zuune	zuunes	zuune
	dative	zuunem	zuuner	zuunem	zuune

Adverb

zu

1. closed

   Die Deer waar zu.

   The door was closed.

2. too; overly

Preposition

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.

References

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

Japanese

Romanization

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.

Korak

Noun

zu

1. water

Further reading

• 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

Luxembourgish

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡su/

Preposition

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

Usage notes

• 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).

Synonyms

• (towards): bäi; op

Derived terms

• zum
• zur

Related terms

• ze
• zou

Adverb

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.

Mandarin

Romanization

zu

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

Usage notes

• 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.

Pennsylvania German

Etymology

Compare German zu, Dutch te, English to.

Preposition

zu

1. at, to

Sicilian

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

• ziu

Pronunciation

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

Noun

zu

1. Alternative form of ziu

   Ou, cucì, ti saluta u zu Ninu. ― Hey, bro, “uncle” Ninu greets you.

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

Pronunciation

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

Interjection

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!

Translation notes

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

Usage notes

• 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.

Related terms

• avaja
• avà
• buì
• ippì
• ivì
• marvaja
• puì

 

Sumerian

Romanization

zu

1. Romanization of 𒍪 (zu)

Volapük

Conjunction

zu

1. in addition