Browse African Slang

هدف - Goal

Sweet talk (Somali)

Speech is gold (Somali saying)

Now (Somali)

Before now/earlier

Just now

So then, therefore

ሓደ - ገለ ሰብ፣ ብሉጽ (One - Someone cool)

هادي - Calm

هدرة (Talk / gossip)

Calm/quiet

“That’s what I’m saying!” (agreement). Usage: Exactly, hadi goulya – we should boycott that expensive cafe.

Means “that’s it” or “that’s the one.” Used when something exactly hits the mark.

“This is an issue,” used to indicate something is serious or a big <a href="/word/<a href="/word/deal" class="internal-l...

“That’s work,” said when something requires effort or is a tough situation. Usage: Waking up at 5 for practice, hadi khd...

“It’s like…” used to draw a funny comparison. Usage: He’s glued to his phone hadi kima a teenager in love.

Literally “one hour,” slang meaning “a while” or “ages.”. Usage: I’ve been waiting hadi sa3a for the bus, where is it?

Evening stories

Old stories

Contes anciens (Ancient tales)

Pilgrimage title

Pèlerinage fait

Statut de pèlerin (Pilgrim status - respected)

Femme pèlerine

Solide comme la montagne (Solid as mountain)

Fierté Hadjarai (Hadjarai pride)

Danse hadjaraï

Spiritual gathering

Fifaliana / Joy

Joie pour nous / Joy for us

Barber

Hafi (Near)

Literally “digging,” used to describe someone overthinking or overanalyzing. Usage: Stop hafir into every word she said ...

Fête/Cérémonie (Party/Ceremony)

Party/celebration

School party

Cultural festival

Cultural parties

ሓፍተይ/እህት (Sister - Tigrinya)

Something hot or very cool (lit. scorching).

Hagati yacu (Between us - confidentially)

ሐጋይ/ሐጋይ (Sunny season)

ሃገር ባስ - ሃገራዊ ኣውቶቡስ (Country bus - National bus)

Thing / stuff.

Rire (Laughter)

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

Haibo (Expression of shock)

An exclamation of disbelief or shock, like “Oh no!” or “Wow!”

A phrase expressing surprise, disapproval, or disbelief. "Haibo" (from Zulu/Xhosa) is an exclamation akin to "no way!" o...

Traditional women's garment