tokoloshe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Regional
Quick answer
What does “tokoloshe” mean?
A mischievous, hairy, dwarf-like creature from Southern African folklore, often blamed for small disturbances and bad luck.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mischievous, hairy, dwarf-like creature from Southern African folklore, often blamed for small disturbances and bad luck.
In modern Southern African English, it can refer more broadly to any unseen spirit blamed for unexplained or troubling events, or metaphorically to a mischievous person or a lurking problem.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is rarely used in standard British or American English outside of discussions of African culture. In South Africa, where it is most common, it's a loanword used in South African English.
Connotations
In its region of use, it has strong cultural and folkloric connotations. Outside that region, it is an exotic, foreign concept.
Frequency
Frequency is negligible in General American or British National Corpora. It appears in South African English texts and international media discussing South African topics.
Grammar
How to Use “tokoloshe” in a Sentence
[Subject] blamed the missing tools on a tokoloshe.The legend tells of a [Adjective] tokoloshe that [Verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tokoloshe” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old tales claim a witch could tokoloshe a person, bringing them bad luck.
adjective
British English
- He had a tokoloshe-like grin, full of hidden mischief.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The tokoloshe in our supply chain is the unreported stock discrepancy.'
Academic
Used in anthropology, folklore studies, and African literature: 'The figure of the tokoloshe in Zulu cosmology represents...'
Everyday
Primarily in Southern Africa: 'The kids are convinced a tokoloshe hid the TV remote.'
Technical
Not used in STEM fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tokoloshe”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tokoloshe”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tokoloshe”
- Misspelling: 'tokoloshi', 'tokkeloshe', 'tokoloche'.
- Using it as a generic term for any ghost.
- Capitalizing it as a proper noun (except at start of sentence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The tokoloshe is a creature of folklore and belief. While not scientifically real, it holds significant cultural reality for many in Southern Africa.
In very informal, creative South African English, it might be used to mean 'to mischief' or 'to hex', but this is non-standard and rare. It is primarily a noun.
Commonly /ˌtɔkəˈlɔʃi/, with the 'o' sounds as in 'lot' and stress on the third syllable ('lo').
A tokoloshe is a specific physical creature (often described as short and hairy) that can be controlled and sent to cause trouble. A ghost is typically the intangible spirit of a dead person.
A mischievous, hairy, dwarf-like creature from Southern African folklore, often blamed for small disturbances and bad luck.
Tokoloshe is usually informal, regional in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"to have a tokoloshe in the works" (a hidden, persistent problem)”
- “"as sneaky as a tokoloshe"”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TOy + KOala + LOafer + SHady = A small, hairy, mischievous loafer lurking in the shadows.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE UNSEEN CAUSE OF TROUBLE IS A MISCHIEVOUS CREATURE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'tokoloshe' most appropriately used?