Standard Lemma guide

kwaito

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈkwaɪtoʊ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A style of music featuring words chanted over house music, originating in Johannesburg during the 1990s.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: South-Africa, uncountable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The meme or milieu associated with the music style.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: South-Africa, uncountable

Examples

  • Sivuyile is part of the kwaito generation.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Camtho, from Afrikaans kwaai (“cool”, literally “angry”).