SowetoPronunciation: /səˈwɛtəʊ, -ˈweɪtəʊ/Definition of Soweto a large urban area, consisting of several townships, in South Africa south-west of Johannesburg. In 1976 demonstrations against the compulsory use of Afrikaans in schools resulted in violent police activity and the deaths of hundreds of people. Derivatives Sowetan noun & adjective Origin:from So(uth) We(stern) To(wnships)Soweto in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of Soweto in the US English dictionary