Browse African Slang

Sit; stay

Kaango/sufuria ya kukaangira (Frying pan)

Kabichi/mboga kubwa (Cabbage/big vegetable)

Kabila/ukoo (Tribe/clan)

Kabisa/kikamilifu (Completely/totally)

Kadhaa/mambo mengine (Several/other things)

Kafe/mahali pa kahawa (Cafe/coffee place)

Coffee

Kahawa ya kilimo (Farm coffee)

Rangi ya kahawa (Coffee color)

Brother (informal)

Kijana anayeuza nguo za zamani (Youth who sells secondhand clothes)

Kama kawaida/kama desturi (As usual/as custom)

Samaki mkubwa (Big fish)

Kambare/mtu mkali (Lobster/strong person)

Mama wa kambo (Stepmother)

Kampuni/shirika (Company/organization)

Shirika la magari (Transport company)

Kanga/mwanamke mzuri (Guinea fowl/beautiful woman)

Kanisa/mahali pa sala (Church/prayer place)

“Step on it, let’s go” – instructing a driver to drive off quickly (common with boda or taxi when wanting to leave fast)...

Karafuu/viungo (Cloves/spices)

Karamu/sherehe ya chakula (Feast/food celebration)

Karanga/chakula cha kukaushwa (Fried food/dried food)

Karbohaidreti/vipatanishi vya nguvu (Carbohydrates/energy givers)

Welcome; you're welcome

Sherehe ya kucheza (Dance celebration)

Karoti/mboga njano (Carrot/orange vegetable)

Trouble or messy situation.

Pretending to be dead (Katavi is a region with a famous “play-dead” trick used by locals on charging hippos). Used when ...

Mchezo wa watoto (Children's game)

Katibu/mwandishi (Secretary/writer)

Bar counter; slang for going to bar (used like “piga kaunta”).

A phrase meaning let’s have a couple of drinks (at the counter).

Kazi/shughuli (Work/activity)

Kazi ya mikono (Handwork)

Kelele/sauti kubwa (Noise/big sound)

Tomorrow

Keyboodi/ala ya muziki (Keyboard/music instrument)

Msimu wa joto (Hot season)

Mahali pa kuuza muziki (Place to sell music)

Means a lot or plenty in urban slang

Mchezo wa kubana (Hide game)

Kiboko/mtu mkali (Hippo/tough person)

Kiburu/mazao (Harvest/crops)

Kichaka/msitu mdogo (Bush/small forest)

Kicheko cha jamii (Community laughter)

Kichwa/ubongo (Head/brain)

Kichwani/sehemu ya juu (In head/upper part)

Mwanzo wa mchezo (Game start)