‖au, interjection

/aʊ//aːʊ/
Forms:
auw, awuShow more Also auw, awu, ow.
Origin:
IsiZulu, isiXhosaShow more From isiZulu and isiXhosa awu.
Among isiZulu- and isiXhosa-speakers: hau.
1857 D. Livingstone Missionary Trav. 88Sebituane..asked why they had wished to kill him; he had never attacked them, never harmed their chief: ‘Au!’ he continued, ‘the guilt is on your side.’
1899 B. Mitford Weird of Deadly Hollow 72‘Au!’ cried the Kafir, contemptuously.
1907 J.P. Fitzpatrick Jock of Bushveld 250The other voices dropped out, only to be heard once in a while in..that briefest of all comments — the kaffir click and ‘Ow!’
1949 O. Walker Proud Zulu (1951) 19Auw! A man who did not have his soul in cattle was not Zulu, was less than a man.
1956 D. Jacobson Dance in Sun 76‘Au!’ he exclaimed, gaining enthusiasm..‘Lovely bed for boy!’
1963 A.M. Louw 20 Days 239‘Dangerous weapons? Illicit liquor?’ asked the policeman. ‘Au, my baas!’ The grey-beard was shocked at the idea.
1979 M. Matshoba Call Me Not a Man 81‘Awu, Monde. Don’t exaggerate,’ she cooed, pretending not to believe the sincerity of the compliment.
1983 Pace Oct. 70The government is to launch a no-mercy campaign against..Soshanguve residents who refuse to use trains...Awu! Woe unto those who shun Putco.
1992 T. Pemba in Weekly Mail 24 Apr. 32‘Awu Gaba,’ he says, praising him by his totem.
hau.
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18571992

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IsiZulu
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idiomatic
attorney, nounn.aubuti, nounn.
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