Browse African Slang

Muso min ka kuma ka bon, min bɛ se ka cɛ ka hakili minɛ (Woman whose words are powerful, who can capture a man's mind)

Balimaya (Family/kinship - Dioula)

Literally 'ancestors,' but in this context, Balimo is slang for an older woman dating a much younger man, i.e. a 'cougar...

Mpira (Ball / football)

Your decision (Your move)

Mpira ni maisha (Ball is life)

Wide/broad (Somali)

Literally “stray bullet,” slang for a loose girl or someone who’s “for the streets.”. Usage: Oyo balle perdue – ozela te...

Wahid andu gurush (Someone with money)

ባለር/ሀብታም (Baller/rich)

Ballet / Ballet

Unemali kakhulu (Having lots of money)

La'ab kweis (Playing well)

Living in wealth and extravagance (like a baller).

Ballon (Ball)

Ballon (Football/soccer)

Balle de sport (Sports ball)

Ball

Football à l'africaine (African-style football)

Football (Soccer)

Ballon, football (Ball, football)

Viver em Mandinka (To live in Mandinka)

Balo (Life - Dioula)

Árvore sagrada (Sacred tree)

What do they say?

Baloi (Witchcraft)

بلوت (Card game)

Baloum naaba (Minister)

Thug or enforcer; originally meant axe-man, now refers to regime muscle who intimidate citizens - symbol of might over r...

ባልቲና/ባልቲና (Baltina) - second-hand market

Agitar / animar a festa (To shake up / liven up the party)

Maestro bailarín de balélé (Master balélé dancer)

Chef de guerre (War chief)

Reference to being sophisticated (from capital) (Origin: Bambara/Malian)

Bamako su ambiance, fasobara tulonw (Bamako night fun, capital entertainment)

Bamanankan kalan, apprendre bambara (Bambara study, learn Bambara)

Bamananw ka kan, langue bambara (Bambara people's language, Bambara)

Girl or girlfriend in Juba Arabic slang

Bambara nuts

Ambiance de Bambari (Bambari vibe)

Bambe (To want)

Please; poor thing

From Hausa, meaning a beggar. It's used for someone always asking for money or favors. To "do bambiala" is to go around ...

Bambin (Toddler)

Bami (Friend - Bamileke)

Bamia/mboga ya kuvimba (Okra/swelling vegetable)

Khodar akhdar (Okra vegetable)

Ban (To finish - Dioula)

Block/prohibit

Children or young people (Origin: Bambara/Malian)