Browse African Slang

Mix

Leave/let

خلي عليك - دعك من هذا (leave it alone)

خللي بالك (Take care)

خلي تراك - اترك أثر (leave a track - make an impact)

خليك هنا - ابق هنا (stay here - dismissive)

Uncle (maternal)

خلوف، شخص سمين (Fat person - playful)

“Aunty,” but used as slang to address an older woman respectfully or jokingly among friends for a friend who’s acting ol...

Aunt (maternal)

خالتي مودرن - خالتي العصرية (modern aunt)

Universally in Arabic means 'enough' or 'done,' but Libyans also use it as 'ok, that's it.' E.g. someone asking you to s...

Khama Rhino (Sanctuary)

خماسين - Khamaseen winds

Think (Annaba)

Thursday (Somali/Arabic)

خمس تلاف (Five thousand)

Expression to fend off envy (five on us).

Phrase meaning “Five in your eye,” a hand gesture/phrase to ward off the evil eye after bragging or good news.

Fifty-day wind

Head (used teasing).

Muito obrigado em Changana/Ronga (Thank you very much in Changana/Ronga)

Khansele (Council)

Escort / accompany.

Someone always tagging along.

خرافي (Legendary / incredible)

خرج - Expenses/Spending money

Étudier est bon (Studying is good)

Expense/cost (Somali/Arabic)

Expensive/high maintenance

Means someone who is super skinny (like a stick). Usage: Eat something, ya kharazan – you’re all skin and bones!

Traditional game

خربوشة، فوضى (Mess, chaos)

خريف - Autumn

Outing

Outing

Literally “go out like a thief,” meaning to slip out quietly or leave without telling anyone.

خسارة - Loss

Lose

خجل - Shyness

Loss/waste

Danger (Arabic)

خطر كبير (Big danger)

خاطبة، طلب الزواج (Marriage proposal, engagement)

خطيب - Fiancé

خطيبة - Fiancée

Ring/seal

Friday sermon giver

Good ending

Quran completion