tsotsi
English
Etymology
Uncertain. Compare Shona tsotsi (“criminal”)
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtsɒtsi/
Noun
tsotsi (plural tsotsis)
- (South Africa) A hoodlum or street thug, especially one from the townships; a township skollie.
- 1979, André Brink, A Dry White Season, Vintage 1998, p. 39:
- A gang of tsotsis – hooligans – attacked a group of older men, and when the owner tried to throw them out they ran amok in the place, smashing everything in their way.
- 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus, published 2010, page 88:
- Gangsters – known as tsotsis – carrying flick-knives or switchblades were plentiful and prominent [...].
- 2006 Cape Times, 17 Mar 2006:
- Mandela, standing up for all the tsotsis out there, said: "Don't dismiss any youngsters who are not behaving according to your wishes."
- 1979, André Brink, A Dry White Season, Vintage 1998, p. 39:
Derived terms
- tsotsitaal
Anagrams
- Tostis
Shona
Noun
tsótsi class 5 (plural matsótsi class 6)
- criminal, thug, gangster, hooligan, hoodlum
- Synonym: horomori
Tlahuica
Noun
tsotsi
- bat
References
- Elpidia Reynoso González, Vocabulario Español-Tlahuica (1998)