African Slang Words Starting With "K"

Kuva hejuru (From above - from authority)

Kuvaa vizuri (To dress well)

To dress

Kupera kwebasa (To close/finish work)

Kutya (scared)

Kutanga basa (To open/start work)

A Shona phrase meaning “to open big,” used to mean doing something *extra risky or breaking a big taboo*.

A Shona word meaning “to be open,” used in slang to describe someone who *can’t keep a secret* or who *blabs*.

To dance

Kuvoma inka (To milk a cow - to benefit)

Kuvuga (To speak)

Kuvuga flow (To speak smoothly/rap)

Kuvuga induru (To speak loudly/shout)

Kuvuga ibintu nk'uko biri (To speak the truth)

Kuvuga ukuri (To tell truth)

Kuvugana (To talk to each other)

Kuhamia sehemu nyingine (To move to another place)

To be injured

Sauti ya radi (Sound of thunder)

To harvest/get paid

Kushinda kwa urahisi (To win easily)

Kuchuma mazao mashambani (To pick crops from the farm)

Kuharibu (To mess up / disturb)

Kusababisha mchanganyiko au msongamano (To cause confusion or commotion)

Kukhala wolemera / Kukhala ndi zinthu (To be rich / have things)

To be high (on substances) or to be on top/successful.

Kuwa na afya njema (To have good health)

Kuwa na pesa (Having money)

To be in good shape or doing well.

Kuwa na mchumba (To have someone)

Kujiandaa kwa jambo (To prepare for something)

Kuwa na hasira (To be angry)

Kuongoza kulinda desturi (To maintain traditions)

From 'to be set up.' In slang, 'amewekewa' means he got cheated on or his partner found someone else (like someone place...

Being given a cut-off (like deadline) in dating: basically ultimatum. 'Dem ameniwekea cut-off' means the girl gave me a ...

To read

Kupambana / Kuchita bwino (To win / succeed)

To boil

Porc-épic (Porcupine)

To answer

Ndebele slang for showing off excessively (almost like “flexing”).

To walk

To vibe; enjoy

Kutchuka / Kudziwika (To become famous / known)

Mexer / agitar (To move / shake)

Kwitabira ibitaramo (To attend concerts)

Creole phrase meaning 'So what?' or 'What's up then?'. It's a casual, slightly confrontational retort. Literally from En...

Kuzimya umuriro (To extinguish fire - to calm situation)

Logar di kuzinhá (Lugar de cozinhar) (Kitchen)

To be cold