matabeleland: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Geographical
Quick answer
What does “matabeleland” mean?
A historical and geographical region in southwestern Zimbabwe, named after the Ndebele (Matabele) people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical and geographical region in southwestern Zimbabwe, named after the Ndebele (Matabele) people.
Refers to the cultural and administrative area traditionally inhabited by the Ndebele people, now divided into the modern provinces of Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The term is more likely to appear in British English texts due to historical colonial connections.
Connotations
Evokes British colonial history in Africa, the Matabele Wars, and the later political history of Zimbabwe.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, with a slight edge in historical British publications.
Grammar
How to Use “matabeleland” in a Sentence
[preposition] + Matabeleland (e.g., in, to, from)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “matabeleland” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Matabeleland traditions
- the Matabeleland plateau
American English
- Matabeleland provinces
- Matabeleland history
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of mining, agriculture, or tourism related to Zimbabwe.
Academic
Used in history, African studies, geography, and political science discussing Zimbabwe's regions or colonial history.
Everyday
Extremely rare in general conversation outside of Zimbabwe or specific historical discussion.
Technical
Used in geographical surveys, historical texts, and political analyses of Zimbabwe.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “matabeleland”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “matabeleland”
- Misspelling as 'Matabelaland', 'Matabele Land' (as separate words), or 'Matapeleland'.
- Incorrect capitalization in the middle of the word (e.g., 'MataBeleland').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a region within the country of Zimbabwe.
'Matabele' is an older, colonial-era term for the Ndebele people, a Bantu ethnic group.
It is divided into two of Zimbabwe's modern provinces: Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.
It was the heartland of the Ndebele Kingdom and a major site of conflict during the late 19th-century colonial Scramble for Africa.
A historical and geographical region in southwestern Zimbabwe, named after the Ndebele (Matabele) people.
Matabeleland is usually formal, historical, geographical in register.
Matabeleland: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmatəbiːlɪˈland/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmædəbiːlɪˈlænd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MATA (like a mat) + BELE (like 'bell') + LAND. Imagine a large mat with a bell on it, spread over the land of Zimbabwe.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAND AS A HERITAGE (e.g., Matabeleland represents the ancestral home and cultural identity of the Ndebele people).
Practice
Quiz
What is Matabeleland?