Khoisan

noun

Khoi·​san ˈkȯi-ˌsän How to pronounce Khoisan (audio)
-ˈsän
1
: a group of African peoples speaking Khoisan languages
2
: a group of languages of southern and eastern Africa that have clicks in their consonantal inventories and that include the languages of the Khoikhoi and San

Examples of Khoisan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the second day, guests will embark on the ultimate adventure, spending the night at a remote fly camp under the stars—a unique experience enhanced by a traditional bucket shower and stories around the campfire told by local Khoisan guides. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024 But the puzzling placements of blacks, Pygmies, and Khoisan hint at past population upheavals. Jared Diamond, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2023 The history of South Africa is complex, but to keep it very simple: The region was home to many African societies, including the Khoisan, Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana and Ndebele. Gillian Brockell, Washington Post, 5 May 2023 The Dutch established a settlement in the 1600s, clashing with Khoisan and bringing enslaved people in from other parts of Africa. Gillian Brockell, Washington Post, 5 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Khoikhoi + San

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Khoisan was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near Khoisan

Cite this Entry

“Khoisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Khoisan. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Khoisan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!