Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "inyanga" come from? It comes from Zulu inyanga, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "inyanga" come from? It comes from Zulu inyanga, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
Inyanga’s story begins in Zulu: inyanga meant “doctor, herbalist.” Formed on the root -nyanga, 'to treat, heal, cure'. It reached English by 1900s as inyanga. South Africa's Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007 recognized traditional healers. Today, inyanga means a traditional herbalist or healer in Zulu culture, especially in southern Africa.
- Stage 1 · Zulu · 1820s inyanga "doctor, herbalist", formed on the root -nyanga, 'to treat, heal, cure'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1900s inyanga "a traditional Zulu herbalist or healer", South Africa's Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007 recognized traditional healers.