[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/indaba/)

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# indaba

noun (an indaba, indabas)

«indaba» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (South Africa) An important meeting or conference to discuss something, originally a gathering of Zulu or Xhosa people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#m1)
2. (Scouts) A large meeting of Scout leaders. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#m2)

### In the lessons

A word from the Zulu and Xhosa languages, used in South African English and in Kipling's Just So Stories for a big gathering or talk. Today it is used for conferences and meetings in South Africa and in the Scout movement.

### Examples

- The chiefs held an indaba to settle the dispute. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#x1)
- The Scout leaders met at an international indaba. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#x2)
- The animals gathered for a great indaba. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#x3)
- The government called an indaba on water shortages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#x4)
- Everyone had a say at the indaba. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#x5)
- In South Africa «indaba» can also mean «my business»: «That's your indaba!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/#x6)

### Note

From Zulu «indaba» (matter, business, talk). Countable: an indaba, indabas. Mainly South African English.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «indaba» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indaba/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«indaba» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/indaba.html) on Mova free.