Word of the Day [18 May 2026]

Congo

A Central African country with rainforests, the Congo River, and significant oil and timber resources.


Brazzaville, the capital of Congo, faces Kinshasa across the Congo River.

Ethiopia

An ancient East African country with diverse cultures, coffee origins, and rapid economic growth.


Ethiopian Airlines is one of Africa's largest and most successful carriers.

Sthandwa

Sthandwa means “my love” or “baby”.


I love you, sthandwa.


Umgidi

In Xhosa culture, umgidi is the ceremony that's done to celebrate a boy or boys (mkhwetha) coming back from the mountain (initiation school).


I can't wait to attend umgidi ka Boy

ode

dunse untrained


that boy is an ode


Yeses

To show anger or disbelief.


Yeses maan, I am angry. How can this boy do this to me mara.

Gbelleh

Foolish, stupid


Dey gar dah gbelleh


Kwaal

Kwaal is a slang term that means a problem or a conflict.


Why does he have kwaal with him?

Chipi

A SePitori term for a beautiful or a hot girl.


My girlfriend ke chipi mara.


K-word

A racist slur used to refer to black people in South Africa. It is shortened from Kaffir.


It is a crime to use the K-word in South Africa.

Imana

The creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.


God help us.
Imana idufashe.




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