Browse African Slang

أحلام باريستا (Barista dreams)

Bonjour/Salut (Hello/Hi)

Stop it/enough

Bark (Tree bark medicine)

Barka (Thank you - Mooré)

Bénédiction

Short for barka da… greetings (like Barka da safe – good morning). On social media Nigerien youth say just Barka as 'Con...

Bon vendredi

Barka yaa Wẽnde (Thanks is to God)

Parliament

Responsable bar (Bartender)

Literally “barrel,” joking slang for someone who eats a ton or has gained weight. Usage: Ever since exams started I’ve b...

Kumaɲɔgɔnya kɛ, ka kuma ni mɔgɔ ye (To chat, to talk with someone)

Lightning

برق لامع (Lightning flash)

Outside; out

Outside

Means 'outside,' but also used as a command 'get out!'. Doubling it – barra barra – emphasizes telling someone to scram.

Meaning 'Out, out!' or 'get out right now,' doubling for urgency.

Get lost (very vulgar)

Literally 'shack,' it refers to a small informal bar or tavern where people gather to drink

Briga grande (Big fight)

Sira datugu yɔrɔ, route fermer place (Road close place, checkpoint)

Projet de barrage

Outsider/stranger

Barriga cheia (Full belly)

Cumpleaños del barrio (Neighborhood birthday)

Fuente de orgullo del barrio (Barrio pride source)

Fou (Crazy)

Versos de rap (Rap verses)

Means “a lot/a ton” in Tunisian dialect. Used for very or much.

Père fondateur (Founding father)

Luxurious house

Egyptian pronunciation of “بس” meaning “but” or “only.” Often used as an interjection for “enough” or “stop.”

Bas (To leave - Mooré)

Only; just; stop

Enough (Arabic-French)

Wait for the bus

Zone basse (Low area)

Diaspora Ugandans who return home, often flashing money (plural of *Osama*).

Basaza (Brothers-in-law)

Lots of chili

Maquiagem base (Foundation makeup)

Asas makiyaj (Makeup foundation)

Base (Hangout spot)

Slang for one's home area or hangout spot (like base of operations).

Base politics - Hangout spot drama

Supporters politiques fidèles (Electoral base)

بسيط (Simple / humble)

"Where are they from?"