Mxm! It’s that sound people make when they’re fed up. You know, that click you do with your tongue when something’s annoying or disappointing. It’s frustration in a sound, like an audible eye-roll. You use it when you’re stuck in traffic, when your mom keeps asking you the same thing, or when life seems to be one big letdown.
Mxm is onomatopoeia, meaning the word itself reflects the sound it conveys. It traces back to the days of MXit, the chat app everyone used before WhatsApp took over. Mxm was the shortcut to show irritation without having to type out a whole message. Fast forward, and even though MXit is long gone, the reaction stuck around.
In the Coloured community, that click is known as “tanne skoonmaak” – or “cleaning your teeth.” If a kid ever clicked at their mom in frustration, they’d quickly hear the phrase, “Vi’ wie maak djy jou tanne skoon?” It is a warning about tone and respect.
Author: Editorial Team
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