zenana

Meaning

1. (South-Asia) Synonym of harem (“area of house or palace for high-caste women or wives of a wealthy man; the women thus kept; the system of segregating women in this way”).
2. (South-Asia) Synonym of sissy (“effeminate man”).
3. (South-Asia) Synonym of bottom (“passive partner in male homosexual sex”).
4. (South-Asia) Synonym of trans woman.

Synonyms

gynaeceum

harem

purdah

veil

Translations

zenana

γυναικωνίτης

γυναικωνίτης των ινδίων

zénana

Pronounced as (IPA)

/zəˈnɑːnə/

Etymology

From Hindi ज़नाना (zanānā), Urdu زنانه (zanānah), from Classical Persian زنانه (zanāna, “womanly”), from زن (zan, “woman”). Related to Old English cwene (“woman”). More at quean.