abakwetha

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noun

A young Xhosa man undergoing the ritual initiation into manhood.

Similar
amakweta
OriginXhosa abakwetha →
First used 19th c.Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounabakwetha (plural abakwethas or abakwetha)

plural abakwethas · alternative abakweta

  1. South AfricaA young Xhosa man undergoing the ritual initiation into manhood.First known use 19th c.
  2. South AfricaThe traditional initiation period into manhood.First known use 19th c.
  3. pluralplural of umkhwetha

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
amakweta

Origin

  1. Xhosaabakwetha
  2. Englishabakwetha

From Xhosa abakwetha, from aba- + kwetha (“initiate”).

More words from Xhosa

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

abakwetha. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abakwetha

MLA

“abakwetha.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abakwetha. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abakwetha,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abakwetha.

Source: abakwetha on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.