Zaza

Zaza

English Noun Top 39,896

Definition

A member of an ethnic minority of Iranian origin in eastern Turkey.

Etymology

From Zazaki Zaza, though ultimately likely an exonym of non-Iranian substrate (possibly Northwest Caucasian or Northeast Caucasian) origin or from Northern Kurdish meaning "stuttering" or "speaking unintelligibly", as the term Zaza is considered derogatory. Zazas prefer to call their language Zazaki Dımliki, while the people are called Zazaki Dımli (“Dimlî”), which could be related to the Iranian tribe Daylamites.