mfo, noun

/ˈ(ə)mfɔ/
Plurals:
bafo.
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more IsiZulu, see mfowethu.
colloquial
Among speakers of Sintu (Bantu) languages: mfowethu sense 1.
Derivatives:
So mfondini  [IsiZulu, mfo + -ndini (suffix indicating affection)], ‘dear brother’.
1976 M. Tholo in C. Hermer Diary of Maria Tholo (1980) 82The watchman wanted his money back...He said to Mr. Gaga, ‘Mfo, you told me three months. Well,..I want my money back.’
1979 M. Matshoba Call Me Not a Man 9South Africa! A cruel, cruel world with nothing but a slow death for us. I hate it, mfo, I hate it!
1987 S.D. Tirivanhu in New Coin Poetry June 26Mfondini how i miss home.
1987 M. Matshoba in New Nation 10 Dec. 14Monde grinned and greeted: ‘How’s it mfo?’ The other one grunted, ‘Sweet,’ and sheepishly returned the grin.
1990 M.B. Kumalo in Sunday Times 22 July 16 (letter)Mr Ray de V— claims: ‘I am now happy to call him Bafo, which means brother’. Without giving linguistic reasons, what Mr de V— means is Mfo when addressing one brother, as against Bafo when addressing two or more brothers.
1987 M. Melamu Children of Twilight 274Mfo, what happened?
, ‘dear brother’.
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19761990

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mfondini

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colloquial
mfesi, nounn.mfowethu, nounn.
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