Browse African Slang

Maji kujaa sehemu (Water filling an area)

To chicken out or become quiet (literally “to tuck tail”).

To tuck tail i.e. back down.

Kushiriki fedha (Sharing money)

Kufanya jambo liwe salama (To make something safe)

Kufanya kazi kwa haraka (To work quickly)

Kutafakari jambo (To think about something)

Kutoa heshima kwa wazee (To give respect to elders)

Kuweka salama (To keep safe)

Kutoa chakula ili kupata kitu (To give food to get something)

Kuimba kwa sauti kubwa (To sing with loud voice)

Kufahamiana/kujuana (Getting to know each other)

Kufanya jaribio katika mchezo (To make an attempt in a game)

Kuweka kitu kitakachojaa (To put something that will fill)

Kuunda kitu kipya (To construct something new)

Kufanya kazi (To work hard)

Kutoa majibu kwa haraka (To give quick responses)

Kutumia pesa kwa wingi bila kujali (To spend money abundantly without care)

Kujengajisuhulishaji (To hustle/work)

Kufanya kazi bila malipo (To work without payment)

Kwenda mahali kwa haraka (To go somewhere quickly)

Kukaanga/kupika kwa mafuta (Frying/cooking with oil)

Kukutana na changamoto (To meet challenges)

Kuvua samaki baharini (To fish in the sea)

Kushikana kwa upendo (To hold each other lovingly)

Kupokea wageni (To receive guests)

Kusoma tena kitu (To study something again)

Kuwa na njaa kali (To be very hungry)

Kuwa mtu mkuu (To become an adult)

Chicken

Kuku wa asili (Local chicken)

Kupoteza fedha (Losing money)

Eat

Literally “eat iron sheets,” means to stay single (as bachelors sometimes sleep in unfinished houses with iron sheet roo...

Eng-Swa mix meaning “enjoy a good time.”

Literally “eat life,” meaning enjoy life to the fullest.

Kula nje ya nyumba (Eating outside home)

Kukamilisha jambo (To complete something)

Kumbe/nakumbuka (It turns out/I remember)

Remember

Kuchanganya nyimbo za kitanzania (To mix Tanzanian songs)

“Spill the flour,” meaning to spoil things or fail at the end (like dropping flour you’ve been carrying).

Kunde/mbegu za kilimo (Black-eyed peas/farming seeds)

Kunguru/mwanamke mzee (Crow/old woman)

Kuinua kitu au mtu juu (To lift something or someone up)

Kunywa pombe (To drink alcohol)

Kuoa/kufunga ndoa (To marry)

Kufunga ndoa/kuungana (Marrying each other)

Kuokoa/kupika polepole (Steaming/slow cooking)

Kuolewa/kupokea ndoa (To be married)