Browse African Slang

Refers to something disastrous or very bad (named after the 1993 Gabon air disaster that killed the national football te...

Perte d'argent (Money loss)

Hand (Somali) - also means help

غاتشا - نظام عشوائي (random system)

Hands together - unity

Describes someone (usually male) who is honorable, generous, or has your back (a stand-up guy).

جدع - شجاع (Brave - authentic)

Behind/later (Somali)

Dependable, stand-up guy.

Paiement (Payment)

Port vehicles

Old

Gadji (Girl - from Romani)

Gadjo (Guy - from Romani)

Means lion, but in slang a gado is a fearless person or big boss. A youth might brag 'je suis le gado du quartier' meani...

Vente (Sale)

Bureau de change (Exchange office)

Gae (Home)

Monnaie faible (Weak currency)

Être amoureux (Be in love)

Marché aux puces (Flea market)

Beaucoup d'argent (Much money)

Source de revenu (Livelihood)

Petit travailleur (Small earner)

Prendre de l'avance (To get ahead)

Progresser (To progress)

Don d'argent (Money gift)

Danse moderne (Modern dance)

Laborers paid to carry loads, e.g. at markets or ports. Implies hard manual work

Profit (Gain)

Gains musculaires (Muscle gains)

Namorado, rapaz (Boyfriend, guy)

Bureau de change (Exchange office)

Trouvaille d'argent (Money finding)

Argent suffisant (Enough money)

Ugandan version of “girl power,” often used playfully.

A group of girls.

Hafla ya heshima (Honor gala)

Gala (Gala event)

Soirée bienfaisance (Charity gala)

Soirée de gala (Gala night)

Good afternoon (Somali) - afternoon greeting

جلابية - Galabeya

Illegal mining (Illegal gold mining)

Galamsey fighter - Illegal mining opponent

Mahalala fomba / Gentleman (Gallant / Gentleman)

Galase (Glass)

ጋላቶሚ/አመሰግናለሁ (Thank you - Oromo)

Turn over/flip

قلبي (My heart)