Browse African Slang

Mahali pa kuvuka mto au bahari (Place to cross river or sea)

Mfumo wa giza (Pattern of darkness)

Kiwandani/mahali pa kazi (At the factory)

Kiwango cha usalama (Safety level)

Klabu/mahali pa burudani (Club/entertainment place)

Kliniki/hospitali ndogo (Clinic/small hospital)

Kobe/mtu mdogo (Turtle/slow person)

Mwongozaji/mfundisha (Coach/trainer)

Mwalimu wa timu (Team coach)

Kofia/kifuniko cha kichwa (Hat/head covering)

Pombe ya kimila (Traditional beer)

Kompyuta/mashine ya kufikiria (Computer/thinking machine)

Kona/pembe (Corner/angle)

Kondakta/msaidizi wa dereva (Conductor/driver assistant)

Kondoo/mtu mnyenyekevu (Sheep/gentle person)

Msaidizi wa dereva (Driver assistant)

Korongo/mtu mrefu (Crane/tall person)

Krismasi/sikukuu ya Kikristo (Christmas/Christian holiday)

To tell (from English “show” as in show or indicate).

Kutalakiana/kutengana (Breaking up)

Kumalizana mahusiano (To end a relationship)

Kutalakiana kwa hasira (Breaking up badly)

Kuwa na imani (To have faith)

Kuwa tofauti na zamani (To be different from before)

Kushikana kwa nguvu katika mchezo (To hold tightly in a game)

Kuweka kitu kwenye ukuta wa mtandao wa kijamii (To post something on social media wall)

Kupata furaha (To get happiness)

Kuchelewa/wakati wa mwisho (Late/end time)

Kufika baada ya muda (To arrive after time)

Kuchemsha/kupika kwa maji (Boiling/cooking with water)

Adapted from English “chill,” it means to relax/hang out.

Kupata pesa (To make money)

Kupata fedha (Getting money)

In slang usage, “to ask for” or “claim” – especially in context of money or hookups.

Kuchoka katika mchezo (To get tired in a game)

To ride on or piggyback (like hopping on an idea or vehicle without much contribution).

Kusema uongo kwa mpenzi (To lie to a lover)

To eat (from “dish”).

Kupata maana ya jambo (To get the meaning of something)

Kuumia/kuwa na shida (To suffer/have problems)

Kupata mafanikio (To achieve success)

Kupita mitihani (To pass examinations)

Kumaliza jambo (To finish something)

Kuwasili mahali (To arrive somewhere)

To force things or fake it.

Kuenda nyuma ya gari (To go behind a vehicle)

Kulea wanyamapori (To raise livestock)

“To be braked,” meaning to get a sudden stop put to your plans (often used in dating if someone gets rejected).

Kwa kifupi (In short)

Kupata raha katika jambo (To get pleasure in something)