vuvuzela

[ voo-voo-zel-uh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

South African. a long, plastic horn that makes a loud, monotone sound, typically blown by South African fans at soccer matches.

vuvuzela

/ ˌvuːvuːˈzɛlə /

an elongated plastic instrument that football fans blow to make a loud noise similar to the trumpeting of an elephant

Probably from Zulu vuvu

C20: from Zulu

When Obama strode out to greet them, the only sound missing was the World Cup vuvuzela.

Wearing rubber Bill and Hillary masks while blowing vuvuzela-like party horns, they were chased by photographers.

A moment on the noise: the vuvuzela can only be described as a large animal — like a cow or a hippo — in labor.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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