Word of the Day [12 May 2026]

Shisa Nyama

Of Zulu origin, this directly translates to "burn meat". It is the Zulu equivalent to a braai. In most cases, it refers to a place that sells and "braais" meet.


Let's go braai some meat at that Shisa Nyama.

Beyps

An informal way to say "babes", mostly used by Xhosa women when talking to each other or about each other.


Yho beyps, the way I've been missing my Ben 10 these days.

Saluka

Saluka is a Xhosa term that refers to the person you went to initiation school with.


Good to see you, saluka. I last saw you after initiation school.


ekumgqomo

A trash can, dustbin


Ndizalahla apa le ekumgqomo

Sapiosexual

A person who is sexually attracted to a person's intellect or mind before physical appearance. It comes from the Latin root "sapien" which means wise.


I am not into beautiful girls, I am sapiosexual.


Ungenaphi?

An African proverb (apparently), is taken from Xhosa and directly translate to "where do you enter?". It means how is that/this any of your concern?


Guy: I don't like the fact that you smoke.
Girl: Ungenaphi?

Situationship

A situationship is a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.


I’m considering turning my situationship into a relationship.


Rudo

Love


Anondipa Rudo(She/He gives me love )

Batlao Hurda

A social media term that means they will hurt you.


You think he loves you... Batlao hurda mntase.


Zimbabwean Dollar

Currency of Zimbabwe (ZWL) issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.


Reintroduced in 2019 after a decade of using foreign currencies.

Tilili

A term Xhosa people use to refer to those small cellphones with no internet. Those phones you just use for calls and sms. They call it lepopotane in SePitori.


Yho mntase I saw his tilili hidden in the spare wheel of his car. Caba he didn't want me to see that he uses it for his hoes.




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