Sranantongo
What does "moksi" mean?
moksi is Sranantongo for mixed, to mix. Pronounced MOK-sie.
Moksi means mixed. It is not a dish, it is the word you put in front of one: moksi alesi is mixed rice, moksi meti is mixed meats (usually chicken, pork and smoked meat together). Outside the kitchen it works the same way: moksi patu is a pot with everything in it, and a mixed crowd can be described as moksi. That mixing is exactly why the word lands so well in Suriname.
A ben meki moksi alesi nanga meti nanga fisi. (She made moksi alesi with meat and fish.)
The common mistake is treating moksi as the name of a dish and ordering "a moksi". That is like ordering "a mixed". The dish is moksi alesi, mixed rice, and every family makes it differently.
Frequently asked questions
What does moksi mean in English?
moksi is Sranantongo and literally means mixed, to mix. Moksi means mixed. It is not a dish, it is the word you put in front of one: moksi alesi is mixed rice, moksi meti is mixed meats (usually chicken, pork and smoked meat together). Outside the kitchen it works the same way: moksi patu is a pot with everything in it, and a mixed crowd can be described as moksi. That mixing is exactly why the word lands so well in Suriname.
How do you pronounce moksi?
Say it as MOK-sie. Sranantongo is understood by almost everyone in Paramaribo, including people who speak Dutch, Sarnami or Javanese at home.
Is Sranantongo a real language?
Yes. Sranantongo is a full creole language with its own grammar and spelling, formed in Suriname with roots in English, Dutch, Portuguese and West African languages. Dutch is the official language of Suriname, but Sranantongo is the lingua franca on the street.