African Slang Words Starting With "K"

To get money

Kufanikiwa katika malengo (To succeed in goals)

Kuongezeka kwa afya (To increase in health)

Kupata maisha mazuri au pesa (To get good life or money)

Dance move (Hip dance)

To finish money

To be given

To freestyle or invent on the spot (stories (songs)

To grind

(Swahili, 'taking to the parents') Refers to introducing one's partner to one's family. In East African culture, kupelek...

Kupempha kukwera galimoto / Kufuna thandizo (To ask for a ride / seek help)

To pray

Ukupenda inzipho (painting nails)

Kuwa na upendo wa kweli (To have true love)

Mapenzi ya dhati (True love)

Literally “to go crazy with happiness,” meaning to have a blast.

To dodge or avoid

Kuchenjera / Kusamva (To be clever / dodge)

Kuuza / Kufotokoza (To tell / explain)

Kupewa mikangano / Kukhala mwamtendere (To avoid conflict / stay peaceful)

Kudziwa malo / Kudziwa komwe kuli (To know location / find place)

Ukuguqa (kneeling as respect)

To be rich

Kutaya nthawi / Kuchita zopanda phindu (To waste time / do nothing productive)

Comunicar com os antepassados (To communicate with ancestors)

Kuwonjezera / Kuchulukitsa (To add more / increase)

Kukhala moyo wovuta / Kusowa zinthu (To live a hard life / lack things)

Tratamento espiritual (Spiritual treatment)

To cook

Kulephera / Kuchita zopusa (To fail / mess up)

Kudziwa zinthu / Kuchenjera (To know things / be street smart)

Kupanda phindu / Kukhala wopanda nzeru (To be useless / foolish)

Kufanya (To do)

To procrastinate or drag one’s feet (literally to play around dribbling like in football).

Kula sana (To eat a lot)

Kupiga kelele (To make noise)

Kuzunguka chuo (To walk around campus)

Literally “to hit water,” meaning to get drunk (on alcohol).

Kujivunia (To boast)

Kutembea bila mwelekeo (To wander aimlessly)

To spend money partying

Kuongea (To talk / chat)

Kushindana kupata mpenzi (To compete to get a lover)

Kuibiwa (To be robbed)

Kupika/kutengeneza chakula (To cook/prepare food)

Kutanga chikoro (To start school)

To nod head

Means “to be hot” in Shona – slang usage can mean *to be trending/popular OR to be dangerous (like hot to touch)*.

To go

Kupita ndege / Malo (To go plane / place)