Sousou Glossary: Cycles, Rounds, Pots, and More

Here’s a short glossary of terms we use in Sousou and in savings circles generally.

Circle. The group of people who save together. The circle has one creator (admin) and several members. It has fixed rules: amount, currency, and frequency of contributions.

Cycle. One full rotation in which every member receives the pot once. The number of rounds in a cycle equals the number of members.

Round. One step in a cycle. In each round, one member is the recipient; all others contribute. When all contributions are in, the round is complete and the next round starts.

Pot. The sum of all contributions in a given round. The recipient receives the pot (via bank transfer, cash, or another method agreed by the group).

Contribution. The amount each member pays in each round. It’s the same for everyone in a given circle (e.g. $50 per round).

Recipient. The member who receives the pot in a given round. Everyone takes a turn as recipient over one cycle.

Due date. The date by which contributions for a round should be paid. Set by the circle; the app helps you track who has paid by then.

With these terms in mind, you can navigate Sousou and talk about your circle with clarity.