gnu

English Online Dictionary. What means gnu‎? What does gnu mean?

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Khoekhoe ǃnu:, likely onomatopoeic of the grunt-type noise of the gnu.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /njuː/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /njuː/, /ɡəˈnuː/, /ɡəˈnjuː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /nuː/, /njuː/
• Homophones: new, nu, knew, GNU (UK)
• Rhymes: -uː

Noun

gnu (plural gnus or gnu)

1. A large antelope of the genus Connochaetes, native to Africa, having curved horns.

   Synonym: wildebeest

Usage notes

• Pronunciation with initial /ɡ/ popularized as a joke, in particular through The Gnu Song.

Derived terms

• gnu goat

Translations

References

Further reading

• gnu on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “gnu”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Ngu, UNG, Ung, gun, nug

Danish

Etymology

From German Gnu, from Afrikaans ghnoe, from Bantu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡnuː/, [ɡ̊nuːˀ]

Noun

gnu c (singular definite gnuen, plural indefinite gnuer)

1. gnu, wildebeest

Inflection

Finnish

Alternative forms

• gnuu

Etymology

Borrowed from German Gnu, from Khoekhoe !nu:.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡnu(ː)/, [ˈɡnu(ː)]
• Rhymes: -u
• Syllabification^(key): gnu

Noun

gnu

1. gnu, wildebeest (antelope of the genus Connochaetes)
2. black wildebeest, white-tailed gnu, Connochaetes gnou (large antelope native to south Africa)

   Synonym: valkohäntägnu

3. blue wildebeest, brindled gnu, Connochaetes taurinus (large antelope native to eastern Africa)

   Synonym: juovagnu

Declension

Derived terms

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from French gnou, from Khoekhoe ǃnu:, likely onomatopoeic in origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): ^*/ˈɲu/^*
• Rhymes: -u
• Hyphenation: gnù

Noun

gnu m (invariable)

1. gnu
2. wildebeest, kokoon

References

Further reading

• gnu in Collins Italian-English Dictionary
• gnu in Aldo Gabrielli, Grandi Dizionario Italiano (Hoepli)
• gnu in garzantilinguistica.it – Garzanti Linguistica, De Agostini Scuola Spa
• gnu in Dizionario Italiano Olivetti, Olivetti Media Communication
• gnu in sapere.it – De Agostini Editore
• gnu in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From an African language, via German Gnu.

Noun

gnu m (definite singular gnuen, indefinite plural gnuer, definite plural gnuene)

1. a gnu or wildebeest (large antelope)

References

• “gnu” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

From German Gnu, from Afrikaans ghnoe. Ultimately Khoekhoe.

Noun

gnu m (definite singular gnuen, indefinite plural gnuar, definite plural gnuane)

1. a gnu or wildebeest (large antelope)

Etymology 2

From Old Norse gnúa. Cognate with Icelandic núa.

Verb

gnu (present tense gnur, past tense gnudde, past participle gnutt/gnudd, passive infinitive gnuast, present participle gnuande, imperative gnu)

1. (transitive) to rub hard
2. (transitive) to compress, crush
3. (intransitive) to work hard and evenly
4. (intransitive) to nag

References

• “gnu” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Anagrams

• ung

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from German Gnu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡnu/
• Rhymes: -u
• Syllabification: gnu

Noun

gnu n or f (indeclinable)

1. gnu, wildebeest (any antelope of the genus Connochaetes)

   Synonym: antylopa gnu

Further reading

• gnu in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• gnu in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from French gnou.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -u
• Hyphenation: gnu

Noun

gnu m (plural gnus)

1. gnu

References

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French gnou.

Noun

gnu m (uncountable)

1. gnu, wildebeest

Declension