The word "muti murder" is often heard in South Africa, referring to a ritual murder conducted for traditional medicine purposes. The spelling of "muti" comes from Zulu language and is pronounced /ˈmuːti/. The "u" is pronounced like the "oo" in "mood," while the "t" is pronounced like the "t" in "tea." The word "murder" comes from English and is pronounced /ˈmɜːrdər/. The "u" is pronounced like the "er" in "her," while the "d" is pronounced like the "d" in "dog."
The term "muti murder" does not have a specific etymology, as it is a colloquial term used predominantly in southern Africa, particularly in countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe. The term is derived from the Zulu word "muti", which refers to traditional medicine employed by various African cultures. However, "muti murder" is not an official or recognized term in academic or legal contexts; it is more of a sensationalistic phrase used in the media to describe certain criminal cases involving ritualistic killings or the illegal harvesting of body parts for supposed muti purposes.