nyala

Where does the word "nyala" come from? It comes from Zulu inyala, and was adopted directly into English (1899).

Nyala’s story begins in Zulu: inyala meant “shifty one.” A descriptive name for the antelope's wary, elusive nature; also cited from Tsonga nyala. It reached English by 1899 as nyala. The males are grey with spiral horns, the females chestnut, a striking difference. Today, nyala means a spiral-horned antelope native to southern Africa.

1. Stage 1 · Zulu · 1800s inyala "shifty one", a descriptive name for the antelope's wary, elusive nature; also cited from Tsonga nyala.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1899 nyala "a spiral-horned southern African antelope", the males are grey with spiral horns, the females chestnut, a striking difference.