Browse African Slang

Bahati nasibu kuu ya kamari (Big betting jackpot)

Fruit du jacquier (Jackfruit)

Station balnéaire (Beach resort)

Grandmother

Jadi/kitamaduni (Heritage/cultural inheritance)

Tia lahy / Vehivavy mora (Easy girl / Flirt)

Drought

Messy or disorganized.

Jagermeister (Herbal liqueur)

Frimeur (Show-off)

Homme riche et puissant (Rich and powerful man)

Référence rastafari à Dieu (Rastafari reference to God)

Jahazi/meli kubwa (Dhow/big ship)

Chombo cha baharini cha zamani (Traditional sailing vessel)

Coastal dhow

Ignorant

Prison/Detention (Jail)

Grandma/Grandpa (used for any elder respectfully).

Moto duuru bolo, moto (Two wheel vehicle, motorcycle)

Walad/shabab (Boy/youth - from Nuer)

Eshele / jealous (Jealous)

Envie (Jealousy)

Envieux (Jealous)

Jaloux/jalouse (Jealous)

Gens envieux (Jealous people)

Jaloux-jaloux (Very jealous)

To play music or have fun (same as English slang “jam session”).

Zahma tariq (Traffic jam)

Wimbo mzuri (Good song)

Msongamano wa Nairobi (Nairobi traffic)

Group gathering

Songs/Chants at events (Event songs or chants)

Gathering place

Nas bita'na (Our people/crew)

Mtu/kijana (Person/guy)

Jamaa (Relative/person - from Swahili)

Our relatives

Jamais (Never)

Absolument pas (Never in life)

Never in my life (French-Somali)

زمن، وقت (Time, period - Soninke)

Slang phrase meaning “to skip bathing” (mix of Nyanja/Chewa *jamba* for skip and *bhavhu* for bath).

Ranjo / Leg

Hello (tourist greeting)

Jameson (Irish whiskey)

Hisia za siku ya Jamhuri (Independence day vibes)

Familia (Family)

Jamii/kikundi cha watu (Community/group of people)

Beautiful/handsome

Improviser musique (Jam music)