Browse African Slang

Biblia/kitabu cha dini (Bible/religious book)

Bidhaa/vitu vya kuuza (Goods/things to sell)

Bidii/jitihada (Effort/endeavor)

Bila shaka/hakika (Without doubt/surely)

Bima ya gari (Car insurance)

Binamu/jamaa (Cousin/relative)

Mtu mahiri (Expert person)

Mshindi wa ngumi (Boxing champion)

Msichana wa eneo (Neighborhood girl)

Maelezo mafupi (Short description)

Biriani/wali wa spices (Biryani rice)

Slide into DMs or approach (literally “knock knock”).

Corruption of “be sure,” used to mean “for real/seriously.”

Bizari/viungo (Black pepper/spices)

Kuzuia/kukataza (To block/prohibit)

Blogu/kurasa ya maandishi (Blog/writing page)

Blogger/mwandishi wa mtandao (Blogger/internet writer)

Pikipiki za abiria (Passenger motorbikes)

Motorcycle taxi

Kijiji cha Maasai (Maasai village)

Bomba/mtu mkali (Bomb/explosive person)

Bonde/mahali pa chini (Valley/low place)

Bondeni/bondeni (In the valley)

Dar es Salaam; street smart

Muziki wa Tanzania (Tanzanian music)

Sleepy/tired brain (bongo = brain, lala = sleep). Used when someone isn’t thinking straight out of fatigue.

Tanzania (Tanzania)

Zawadi/malipo ya ziada (Bonus/extra payment)

Viatu vya juu (High shoes)

Mkubwa/mzee (Big person/elder)

Ngumi/mchezo wa mapigo (Boxing/fighting sport)

Mpenzi wa kiume (Male lover)

Kiunganishi/daraja (Bridge/connector)

Kaka/ndugu (Bro/brother)

Mchezo wa Kisukuma (Sukuma dance)

Nguo ya kifungo (Covering cloth)

Bundi/mtu mvivu (Owl/lazy person)

Bunduki/mtu mkali (Gun/dangerous person)

Burudani ya jamii (Community entertainment)

Pombe ya mtama (Millet beer)

Busara/hekima (Wisdom/intelligence)

Akili na ufahamu (Intelligence and understanding)

Bustani/mahali pazuri (Garden/beautiful place)

Literally “Mr./sir,” but used like “man” or “dude” in slang as well.

Bwana harusi/mume mpya (Groom/new husband)

Exclamation meaning “Oh man!” or “Wow, dude!”