Browse African Slang

Baa/mahali pa vinywaji (Bar/drinks place)

Later

Baba wa Kizaramo (Zaramo father)

Mwenye gari (Car owner)

Mwanaume anayeuza matunda (Man who sells fruits)

Mwanaume anayeuza viatu (Man who sells shoes)

Mpenzi/baby (Lover/baby)

Babu/mzee mkuu (Grandfather)

Mpenzi/mtoto (Baby/beloved)

Backup/nakala ya hifadhi (Backup/storage copy)

Wacheza wa msaada (Backup dancers)

Bado/haijafika (Still/not yet)

Mpenzi/mpendwa (Bae/beloved)

Bafu/mahali pa kuogea (Bathroom/washing place)

Bahari/kitu kikubwa (Ocean/something big)

Bahari ya mashariki (Eastern ocean)

Envelope, slang for a bribe (similar to saying “something small in an envelope”).

Heri/jamba (Luck/fortune)

Baiskeli/chombo cha miguu (Bicycle/leg vehicle)

Bajaj/pikipiki za abiria (Passenger motorbike)

Three-wheeled taxi

Balance/salio (Balance/remainder)

Balcony/dirisha kubwa (Balcony/big window)

Bamia/mboga ya kuvimba (Okra/swelling vegetable)

Kaka/ndugu (Bro/brother)

Bandari/mahali pa meli (Port/ship place)

Wimbo mkali (Hard song)

Bangili/vitu vya mapambo (Bracelet/decoration things)

Mchezo wa kitamaduni (Traditional game)

Bar/mahali pa vinywaji (Bar/drinks place)

Barabara/njia kubwa (Highway/big road)

Barafu/maji yaliyoganda (Ice/frozen water)

Barani/nchi kavu (On mainland)

Baraza/mkutano wa kiongozi (Council/leadership meeting)

Cool or chilled. Tanzanian youth also use “poa kichizi kama ndizi” (cool crazy like a banana in a fridge – meaning *supe...

Cold

Sherehe kubwa (Big party)

Basi/gari kubwa la abiria (Bus/big passenger car)

Mchezo wa kikapu (Basket game)

Sauti ya chini (Low sound)

Slang for enjoyment (literally “duck,” but used to mean having a good time, maybe from *kubataa* playfully).

Mdundo/rhythm (Beat/rhythm)

Mdundo wa wimbo (Song beat)

Uzuri/urembo (Beauty/prettiness)

Pick up the next line (originally used in music or poetry jams). Slang for “carry on with what needs to be done.”

A slap (coastal slang).

Bendera ya taifa (National flag)

Besi/ala ya muziki (Bass/music instrument)

Beer

Bibi/mama (Madam/lady)