mafufunyana

M3A1F4U1F4U1N1Y4A1N1A1
/ˌmafʊfʊˈnjɑːnə//ˌmafufuˈnjana//ˌmafʊfʊˈnjɑːne/

noun

In Zulu and Xhosa culture, a mental disorder in which the sufferer is believed to have been possessed by evil spirits, causing hysteria.

OriginZulu amafufunyane,amafufunyana →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

noun

alternative amafufunyana

  1. In Zulu and Xhosa culture, a mental disorder in which the sufferer is believed to have been possessed by evil spirits, causing hysteria.
  2. The evil spirit who causes such a disorder.

Origin

  1. Zuluamafufunyane,amafufunyana
  2. Zuluamafufunyane,amafufunyana
  3. Englishmafufunyana

Borrowed from Zulu amafufunyane,amafufunyana.

More words from Zulu

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

mafufunyana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mafufunyana

MLA

“mafufunyana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mafufunyana. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mafufunyana,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mafufunyana.

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