Etymology Map
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Tokoloshe

2 stages from Xhosa to English.

Today it means a mischievous or malevolent spirit in southern African folklore, said to be small and impish

Where does the word "tokoloshe" come from? It comes from Xhosa uthikoloshe, adopted directly into English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
uthikoloshe
Xhosa · 1830s
"a mischievous water spirit"
a dwarf-like trickster spirit in Nguni folklore, also borrowed as Zulu utokoloshe
2
Stage 2 of 2
tokoloshe
English · 1900s
"a mischievous, malevolent spirit of southern African folklore"
adopted into South African English
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