Muti
/ˈmuːti/noun
A traditional medicine or medicinal substance, especially in Southern African contexts.
Did you know?In isiZulu, the related word umuthi can mean both “tree” and “medicine,” reflecting the historical importance of plant-based healing and ritual substances.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Bantu
Proto-Bantu
*-tì
“Reconstructed root associated with “tree” or wood”
Early Bantu
Bantu
*mu-tì
“A tree or plant, with the noun-class prefix mu-”
Modern isiXhosa
Xhosa
umthi
“Tree; in related usage, medicinal plant or medicine”
Modern isiZulu
Zulu
umuthi
“Tree, medicine, or traditional medicinal substance”
20th Century
South African English
muti
“Traditional medicine, often including herbal or ritual substances”
Modern English
English
muti
“A traditional medicine or medicinal substance, especially in Southern African usage”