sangoma

Meaning

A (usually female) traditional healer or herbalist, or witch doctor.

Pronounced as (IPA)
/sæŋˈɡəʊmə/
Etymology

In summary

Borrowed from Zulu isángoma (“diviner, witch doctor, sangoma”), possibly from i- + sa- (prefix meaning ‘of’) + íngoma (“dance song performed at a festival; hymn”). The English word is cognate with Afrikaans sangoma, Swazi sángoma.

Notes

Sign in to write sticky notes