Browse African Slang

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Slang for a villager or someone naive about city ways.

Dumuni min dabilen don ka feere sugu la (Food prepared to sell at the market)

Da datugu, bouche fermée (Mouth shut, closed mouth)

A bus or van apprentice (the helper who hangs off the side of minibuses).

Cɛ kelen, célibataire (Single man, bachelor)

Yɛrɛtanga, ka i yɛrɛ ɲɛnabɔ (Self-confidence, taking care of yourself)

Bɛɛ lajɛlen, mɔgɔw minnu bɛ ɲɔgɔn dɛmɛ i n'a fɔ denbaya (All together, people who help each other like family)

Denmisɛnninw, u minnu ka dɔgɔ fɔlɔ (Young children, those still young)

Sahara blues, Mali gitari fɔli (Sahara blues, Mali guitar playing)

Means 'love' in Bambara, but as a slangy reference (like 'my diarabi') it means my love/my boo. Youth might mix it in Fr...

Dimi kɛ mɔgɔ ye, faire mal (Do pain to someone, to hurt)

Denmisɛn, den fitinin (Child, small child)

Diɲɛ mɔgɔw ka kan, langue mondiale (World people's language, world language)

An exclamation in Bambara that roughly means 'already' or 'really' and adds emphasis (often placed at the end of a sente...

Jakarta moto, moto chinois (Jakarta motorcycle, Chinese motorcycle)

Slang for a taxi (since taxis roam like sly cats).

A pretty girl, often used admiringly.

Means “affairs” or “business;” can also refer to one’s romantic dealings (flirt or girlfriend).

Mali dugu kɔrɔ, misiri ba bɛ yen (Ancient Mali city, big mosque there)

Same use as maître-nageur: a habitual drunkard.

Borrowed from Ivorian slang (with roots in Mandé languages), un djo means a cool guy, player, or dude. In Bamako you mig...

Nakɔfɛn jalen, tomate ni nakɔw (Vegetable sauce, tomatoes and vegetables)

Ironically calling someone “god,” to hype a friend’s skill (like “boss”).

Wariko, sɔngɔ min bɛ di wari sɔrɔ cogo la (Fish, metaphor for money or income source)

Mali siya dɔ, Bandiagara mɔgɔw (Mali ethnic group, Bandiagara people)

Donso kɔrɔba, donsoya ɲɛmɔgɔ (Master hunter, hunting expert)

Jamana, sɛnɛ yɔrɔ (Land, farming place)

Dugu sira, village route (Village road, rural road)

Ka dumuni ke, manger (To do food, to eat)

Dusukun kasi, ni mɔgɔ ye min kɛ, a bɛ to ka kasi (Heart cry, when someone does it, they keep crying)

Refers humorously to a polygamous household or a place with many women.

Dɔɔni dɔɔni, dɔ bɛ to (Little by little, some remain)

Cɛ walima muso min ka surun kojugu, min bɛ hakilina jugu don (Man or woman who's very stubborn, who has bad thoughts)

Mɔgɔ min bɛ fɛn fila fɔ, min bɛ kumakan fila kɛ (Two-faced person, who says two things)

Furakɛla, médecin (Medicine person, doctor)

Dɔn ka tɛmɛn, su ka se (Day passed, night arrived)

Kunnafoni, fɛn min mɔgɔ b'a dɔn (Knowledge, what someone knows)

Kelen pɛ, dɔrɔn de (Only, just)

Mɔgɔ min bɛ dɛmɛ di, dɛmɛbaa (Someone who gives help, helper)

Sɛgɛn, fanga banna (Fatigue, strength finished)