zama-zama

English

Alternative forms

• zamazama, zama zama

Etymology

From Zulu -zama, stem of ukuzama (“to try, strive, make an attempt to obtain something”).

Noun

zama-zama (plural zama-zamas)

1. (South Africa) A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.

See also

• fossicker
• noodler

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Zulu -zama, stem of ukuzama (“to try, strive, make an attempt to obtain something”).

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

zama-zama

1. A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.