nyala

noun

ny·​a·​la nē-ˈä-lə How to pronounce nyala (audio)
plural nyalas or nyala
: an antelope (Tragelaphus angasii) of southeastern Africa with vertical white stripes on the sides of the body, a dorsal crest of hair from the neck to the base of the tail, and in the male shaggy black hair along the underside
also : a related antelope (T. buxtoni) of Ethiopia

Illustration of nyala

Illustration of nyala

Examples of nyala in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wild dogs, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, and a full complement of antelope, from graceful nyala to sturdy waterbuck, add to the spectacle. Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Also, some koala joeys make a big move, while a young nyala must be hand-raised before returning to its herd. Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

of Bantu origin; akin to Venda dzì-nyálà nyala buck

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nyala was in 1899

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nyala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nyala. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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