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bulawayo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (Proper noun, specific geographic reference)
UK/ˌbʊləˈweɪəʊ/US/ˌbʊləˈweɪoʊ/

Formal/Neutral (used in geographic, historical, political, and travel contexts)

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Quick answer

What does “bulawayo” mean?

A major city in southwestern Zimbabwe, the country's second-largest city and an important industrial and commercial center.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A major city in southwestern Zimbabwe, the country's second-largest city and an important industrial and commercial center.

Historically known as 'the city of kings' and an important cultural and historical center for the Ndebele people. It serves as the capital of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and is a key transportation hub for southern Africa.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use it as a proper noun referring to the Zimbabwean city.

Connotations

In both varieties, primarily evokes geographic/historical knowledge rather than cultural connotations.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both dialects, appearing mainly in contexts discussing Zimbabwe, southern African geography, or colonial history.

Grammar

How to Use “bulawayo” in a Sentence

[is/lies] in Bulawayo[travel/fly] to Bulawayo[based/headquartered] in Bulawayo

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
City of BulawayoBulawayo ZimbabweBulawayo airportBulawayo City Council
medium
travel to Bulawayolocated in Bulawayohistoric BulawayoBulawayo province
weak
Bulawayo basedBulawayo railwayBulawayo industryBulawayo museum

Examples

Examples of “bulawayo” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • Bulawayo-based industries
  • the Bulawayo railway station

American English

  • Bulawayo-style architecture
  • a Bulawayo manufacturing plant

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Bulawayo is a key industrial hub for Zimbabwe's manufacturing and railway sectors.

Academic

Archaeological studies around Bulawayo have revealed significant pre-colonial settlements.

Everyday

My cousin lives in Bulawayo, so we visit during the holidays.

Technical

The Bulawayo water supply system draws primarily from the Mzingwane Dam.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “bulawayo”

Neutral

the City of KingsSecond city of Zimbabwe

Weak

Buluwayo (archaic/alternative spelling)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “bulawayo”

  • Misspelling as 'Bulawayu' or 'Bulawyo'.
  • Using lowercase 'b'.
  • Confusing it with Harare (the capital).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Bulawayo is the second-largest city. The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare.

It derives from the Ndebele word meaning 'the place of slaughter', referring to a historical conflict. It is also known as 'the city of kings'.

The standard pronunciation is /ˌbʊləˈweɪəʊ/ (British) or /ˌbʊləˈweɪoʊ/ (American), with stress on the third syllable: bull-uh-WAY-oh.

It is a major industrial, commercial, and transportation hub for Zimbabwe and the wider southern African region, with significant historical and cultural importance.

A major city in southwestern Zimbabwe, the country's second-largest city and an important industrial and commercial center.

Bulawayo is usually formal/neutral (used in geographic, historical, political, and travel contexts) in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a BULL (strong) pulling a WAGON (way) going 'Oh!' (o) to get to the city: Bull-a-way-oh.

Conceptual Metaphor

A PLACE IS A PERSON (The city is often personified in history as the 'seat of the king' or the 'beating heart' of Matabeleland.)

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The National Railways of Zimbabwe has major workshops located in the city of .
Multiple Choice

What is Bulawayo's historical significance?