Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

tsotsi

noun
/ˈtsоtsi/
Definition
A young thug or criminal, especially in South Africa.
Examples
  • After school, he fell in with a group of tsotsis who led him astray.
  • The film portrays the life of a tsotsi and his transformation.
  • In some neighborhoods, tsotsis are feared and avoided by the locals.
Meaning
Often used to describe a person involved in petty crime or gangster behavior, particularly in urban areas of South Africa.
Synonyms
  • gangster
  • thug
  • hoodlum