Tzeghrit

It looks like I had my fingers on the wrong letters of the keyboard but this is the word for that distinctive African woman's sound of joy -- a trilling wail of a cheer that you'll hear at graduations, weddings, football games. Men can do it too, but it's better sounding from women. And I have no idea why it's as uniquely African as drum beats.

I still cannot pronounce the word. It's in three parts -- like Tzcha--ghr--it -- but that's not it. For short you say you-you-ing. And here's how you do it.

Put the tip of your tongue against your bottom front teeth and hold it there. Then yell the word YOU raising your voice as loud as you can. Practice. And get a crowd of women around you doing the same. Formidable!