Word of the Day [21 Jan 2026]

amatile-tile

Xhosa plural for stratagems. It is actually just amatile. Singular is itile. The ti is pronounced like English tea and le as in French. From the Sanskrit kutila which appear in Xhosa as ukutila.


My car broke down on the way, I had to make amatile-tile to get here.

garri

Garri, pronounced gah-ree,, is made from granulated cassava, a root vegetable that's poisonous unless you peel and cook it first. Commonly found in West Africa, there are two types of garri: yellow and white. The flavor depends on how long it's been fermented and the presence of palm oil.


The prices of staple foods such as rice, beans and garri have increased astronomically.

Comot

Comot is a Nigerian pidgin term that means 'go', 'leave', or 'get out!'


Make we comot (Let us go out)
Comot from dia ( leave)
Comot! (Get out!)


Germiston

Germiston, also known as kwaDukathole, is a city in the East Rand region of Gauteng, South Africa.


I hate travelling to Germiston in the morning. The traffic is crazy.

Ninganya

This is a swear word you use when people make fun of your disability, accident, family and kids... and people ask you to apologise for asking a simple question.


I will not apologize for speaking the truth. Ningaya!!!


Gqolo

igqolo is a Xhosa term for a stingy person.


Did you expect a trip to Durban but you know you are dating igqolo.

Abidjan

Côte d'Ivoire's economic capital with stunning lagoon views and French flair.


Abidjan's Banco National Park offers rainforest hikes within city limits.


Menenja

A Zulu pronunciation of "manager".
It can also mean you are standing with a dog.


No one:
Zulu guy: My friend is now a menenja at Transnet.

Gwara gwara

A popular South African dance that was created by DJ Bongz. It has been performed by a lot of big stars including Rihanna and Paul Pogba.


Did you see Paul Pogba doing the Gwara gwara?


Woto Woto

Often heard in football commentary, woto woto describes relentless attack or punishment. In casual conversations, it’s used to describe someone who’s taking a figurative “beating” in an argument or facing harsh circumstances.


"The strikers gave him woto woto" implies they played aggressively, leaving no room for escape.

Chop rice

Chop rice is a Nigerian slang term that means “eat rice”.


Ehhhhh. Chop rice, chop rice, chop rice.




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