name
Uncommon
Mandela
man-DEH-luh
Mandela (name) means a Xhosa surname, most famously borne by South African leader Nelson Mandela. Example: “Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming president.”
name
1
A Xhosa surname, most famously borne by South African leader Nelson Mandela.
"Our common room, thanks to a morally rectitudinous constitutional change some time previously, was known as the Nelson Mandela Room."
— Libby Brooks, Let heroes be unsung (2008)
"Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming president."
How to use Mandela
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known as the surname of Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader and first Black president of South Africa.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- Mandelas
- Past tense
- Mandelaed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ spent 27 years in prison before becoming president.
Etymology
Borrowed from Xhosa.
Rhymes for Mandela
See all rhymes for Mandela →Frequently asked questions
What does “Mandela” mean?
The word “Mandela” means a Xhosa surname, most famously borne by South African leader Nelson Mandela. In plain terms, best known as the surname of Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader and first Black president of South Africa.
How do you pronounce “Mandela”?
“Mandela” is pronounced man-DEH-luh (/mænˈdɛlə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Mandela” in a sentence?
Here is “Mandela” used in a sentence: “Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming president.”
What part of speech is “Mandela”?
“Mandela” is a name.
Is “Mandela” a common word?
“Mandela” is an uncommon word in modern English.
