Browse African Slang

Jamaa bita'ana (Our tribe/clan)

Byakdib kiter (Liar)

Samak muqaddad (Dried fish)

Shukran kbir (Big thanks - Bari)

Qabila min Equatoria (Tribe from Equatoria)

From Arabic khalas (finished/done). Used to say 'enough' or 'done'

Ziyada/tani (Also/more)

Sharika (Company - Swahili)

Beit salat masihiya (Church)

Jab fulus (Made money)

Foreigner, specifically a white person. Used in South Sudan (and Sudan) to refer to Westerners. It's not derogatory in i...

Samak nili (Nile fish)

Shogol (Work - Swahili)

Wahid ghalat (Wrong person)

Bukra (Tomorrow - from Swahili)

Diet shahm (Fat diet)

Intaha/tamam (Finished/done)

Ma fi fulus khalis (Empty pocket/broke)

Sib/utruk (Leave it)

Wagt el matar (Rainy season)

Talab yed el bint (Engagement)

Jalsa basita (Simple hangout)

Jazma/kundura (Shoes)

Shino? (What? - in Bari)

Muraya/glass (Mirror - Swahili)

Khubz junubi (Southern bread)

Waraq li qira'a (Book)

Nas/qabila (People/tribe - Dinka)

Birra mahliya (Local brew)

Waraqa bita'a shogol (Work contract)

The main open-air market in Juba, the name has entered slang meaning any busy marketplace or chaotic trading scene

Amal (Do/make - in Bari)

Khodar baladi (Local vegetables)

Khodar mahliya (Local vegetables)

Ta'al (Come - Swahili)

Sahir taqliidi (Traditional medicine man)

Dajaj (Chicken - Swahili)

Akul (Eat - Swahili)

Kul shay mumtaz (Everything excellent)

Akil (Food - Zande)

Ashrab (Drink - Swahili)

Allah/Rab (God - from Nuer)

Nas/qawm (People/nation - Shilluk)

Kasab (Win - Swahili)

Khisir (Lose - Swahili)

Tamam ziyada (Very good/excellent)