noun

negus

NEE-guhs

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Negus (noun) means a king or ruler in Ethiopia; used as a royal title, with the emperor styled negusa nagast, "king of kings". Example: “The negus received the envoys at his court in Gondar.”

noun

A king or ruler in Ethiopia; used as a royal title, with the emperor styled negusa nagast, "king of kings".

"The negus received the envoys at his court in Gondar."

"Haile Selassie held the title of negus before becoming emperor."

dated, British A hot drink made from wine, usually port, mixed with hot water, sugar, lemon and spice.

"Guests were revived with cake and a glass of negus."

slang; taboo A respelling of the racial slur nigga, used in hip-hop and online. Writers using it sometimes invoke the Ethiopian royal title above, but the two words are unrelated: the slur descends from Latin niger via Spanish and French, not from Amharic nəgus.

"The spelling appears in lyrics and album titles that play on the royal sense."

How to use negus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn Ethiopian king — though online it is more often seen as a respelling of a racial slur.

When to use it

The historical title is neutral and encyclopedic. The slang respelling carries all the restrictions of the word it replaces and is not made acceptable by the alternative spelling.

Memory tip

Context decides: a history text means the Ethiopian king, a Victorian novel means the hot wine drink, and a rap lyric means the slang respelling.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

nigga → negro → nexus →

Common pairings

the negus of Ethiopia negusa nagast a glass of negus

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “negus” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ received the envoys at his court in Gondar.

Etymology

The royal title is from Amharic nəgus, "king", from a Semitic root meaning "to reign". The drink is a separate word, named after an Englishman called Negus who is traditionally credited with the recipe.

Origin: Amharic

Synonyms

View more →

king monarch sovereign mulled wine punch

Related words

hit king independent leader queen prince supreme emperor

Frequently asked questions

Does the n-word come from negus?

No. The slur descends from Spanish and Portuguese negro, "black", from Latin niger. The claimed link to Amharic negus is a modern folk etymology; the two words are unrelated, however popular the idea has become in song lyrics and online.

How do you pronounce negus?

The Ethiopian title is usually said NEE-guhs in English, closer to nə-GUS in Amharic. The hip-hop spelling is pronounced the same way as the word it stands in for.

What is the difference between negus and emperor in Ethiopia?

Negus was the title of a king, and Ethiopia had several regional kings at once during some periods. The emperor above them all was the negusa nagast, literally "king of kings".

What is the meaning of negus?

"negus" (noun) means a king or ruler in Ethiopia; used as a royal title, with the emperor styled negusa nagast, "king of kings".

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