Browse African Slang

Country

بلاد لايفستايل - نمط حياة البلد (countryside lifestyle)

Promenade (Walk)

بلدي - Traditional/Local style

Instrument traditionnel (Traditional instrument)

Balafon contemporain (Modern balafon)

Le balafon résonne (Balafon resonates)

Mali fɔlifɛn dɔ (Malian musical instrument)

Originally means “thug” or shady guy, now sometimes used humorously for a friend who’s a bit wild or sketchy.

Broom

Balai (Broom)

Balai citoyen (Citizen broom movement)

Vendedor de cestas (Basket seller)

Means “watch out” or “be careful” (from French *balade* possibly).

Balance/salio (Balance/remainder)

Balance (Account balance)

Baqi fulus (Remaining money)

Change (money returned after a purchase).

Balance (Snitch)

Instrument de pesée (Weighing scale)

Import-export (Trade balance)

Remaining payment (Outstanding amount)

البحث عن التوازن (Seeking balance)

Balance sheet (Financial statement)

صراع التوازن (Balance struggle)

بالانسد - متوازن (balanced)

نمو متوازن (Balanced growth)

Dénoncer (To snitch)

Se balancer/danser (Sway/dance)

Means “slacking” or doing nothing productive (sometimes said when someone is lounging). (Origin: Sudanese Arabic slang)

Balani (Traditional musicians)

Rhythm and dance style from Balanta culture

Balanta strength

بلاش (Free / no cost)

Mo yeke nzoni (Hello/How are you)

Take me to Balbala (Transport) - suburb destination

Balcony

بلكونة - Balcony

Balcony/dirisha kubwa (Balcony/big window)

بالكوني ڭاردن - حديقة الشرفة (balcony garden)

بالكوني ڭوسيب - نميمة الشرفة (balcony gossip)

No hair/Clean shaven (Hairless head)

ባልደራስ/ባልደራስ (Balderas) - mobile vendor

ባልደረባ/ባልደረባ (Baldereba) - colleague

Means someone who’s gone rogue or off-track (literally “wandering”). Also used for a party animal who’s out every night.

Ho baleha / To run away (To flee / To escape)

Très gros investisseur (Very big investor) - metaphor

Bailar, moverse (To dance, move)

Bemba/Nyanja slang for “father” or any respected older male, similar to “old man.”

Slang for “dad” (used mostly in urban youth language, especially by teens when referring to their father – like saying “...