There’s this little event happening in South Africa, starting today, that you may or may not have heard about. Does the 2010 World Cup ring any bells? Cool, we’re on the same page.

So in honour of the excitement right here in our backyard, I thought I’d celebrate with a little Fun-Word Friday post.

Today’s fun word?

Vuvuzela.

Say it three times fast. It’s pronounced just like it’s spelled.

Still need help? Voo-voo-zell-lah! Voo-voo-zell-lah! Voo-voo-zell-lah!

Isn’t that fun? Like Francisco or cotton-headed ninnymuggins?

If you’re watching the games on the telly – or mayhaps have the privilege of watching them live right here in SA — you might see some of these special instruments making their music first hand.

The definition:

A vuvuzela, sometimes called a “lepatata” (its Setswana name) or a stadium horn, is a blowing horn, approximately one metre in length, commonly blown by fans at soccer matches in South Africa. They require some lip and lung strength to blow and emit a loud monotone like a foghorn or an elephant.

Thanks, wikipedia.

Available at your local Pick n Pay, or other fine retailers, your soccer enjoyment just isn’t complete without a vuvuzela. And when, ahem, the USA beats England Saturday, I sure will be looking for one to blow.

While researchers have concluded that the noise level created by tons of blowing vuvuzelas at these soccer matches could lead to permanent hearing damage, I kind of get the feeling the show’s gonna go on. 🙂

Enjoy the cup!

xCC