(India) A mangosteen.
The Oryx capensis of South Africa, or Gemsbok of the Dutch colonists, Kokama of the Bechuanas, is even more striking in its coloring.
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Add your own interpretation of "kokama".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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A variety of corn with purple kernels cultivated by the Hopi.
The Gemsbok (Oryx capensis) is sometimes called the kokama, is nearly four feet in height, and has South Africa as its habitat.
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(Bechuana) A gemsbok.
I have heard that the Matabili have no name for this animal; but the Bechuana term is "Kokama."
"kokama" means a gemsbok. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
"kokama" is informal English meaning a gemsbok. It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "a gemsbok" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "kokama" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
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