sangoma

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Word: Sangoma

Definition: A "sangoma" is a noun that refers to a traditional healer in Zulu culture. This person is often respected in their community and is believed to have special skills in healing and connecting with ancestral spirits.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: You would use the word "sangoma" when talking about traditional healing practices, especially in Southern Africa, particularly among the Zulu people.
• Formality: The word is more formal and cultural, so it’s best used in discussions about medicine, culture, or anthropology.

Example:

• "In Zulu culture, a sangoma plays an important role in the community as both a healer and a spiritual guide."

Advanced Usage:

• When discussing cultural practices, you might say, "The sangoma uses various herbs and rituals to help their patients, often incorporating guidance from ancestral spirits."

Word Variants:

• Sangomas (plural): Referring to more than one traditional healer.
• Sangomahood (less common): Referring to the state or condition of being a sangoma.

Different Meanings:

• In some contexts, "sangoma" specifically refers to a Zulu healer, but it can also be used more broadly to describe traditional healers in other African cultures, though the practices may vary.

Synonyms:

• Traditional healer
• Shaman (though this term is more general and not specific to Zulu culture)
• Medicine man/woman

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "sangoma," but you might hear phrases like:
  • "To consult a sangoma" (meaning to seek advice or healing from a traditional healer).

Conclusion:

Understanding the term "sangoma" not only helps you learn a new word but also gives insight into the rich cultural traditions of the Zulu people and their approach to health and spirituality.

Academic

Noun

1. a traditional Zulu healer and respected elder