Browse African Slang

Kila wakati/daima (All time/always)

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

Dança moderna angolana (Modern Angolan dance)

Muet d'esprit (Mentally mute)

Mlima wa Kilimanjaro (Kilimanjaro mountain)

Agriculture (Farming)

Kilimo/kazi ya kulima (Agriculture/farming work)

Traditional farming

Modern farming

Mixed farming

Mixed farming

Seasonal farming

Rain farming

Culture d'ylang-ylang (Ylang-ylang farming)

Kilimo kisichoharibu mazingira (Sustainable farming)

ክሊኒክ/ክሊኒክ (Kilinik) - clinic

Kilishi (Dried meat)

Kill (To look amazing)

To succeed excessively (from the phrase “you don kill bird” implying you’ve done more than expected).

Stop music (End noise)

Pass time/Wait (Spend time)

Excellent, mortel (Excellent, killer)

Wenta kahle kakhulu (Doing very well)

Kilogram

Kilogram

Village taboo

Mesure poids (Kilogram)

Kilo-kilo (By the kilogram)

Mesure distance (Kilometer)

Unité informatique (Computer unit)

“What’s the matter/why?” often to express frustration.

Kilogram

Mesure de distance (Distance measure)

Kilomètre 5 (Kilometer 5 area)

Surface (Square kilometer)

Vitesse (Speed)

Vitesse maximale (Top speed)

Centre-ville (City center)

Distance parcourue (Distance traveled)

Taboo

Ngazidja dialect

Singe (Monkey)

Kima/mnyama wa miti (Monkey/tree animal)

Singe (Monkey)

“Like chicken,” meaning doing something mindlessly or in a panic (as chickens scatter). Usage: When the teacher asked ab...

“Like my neighbor,” meaning super casual or nothing special.

“Like that.” Used as a filler or to say “just because.”

Curandeiro / médico tradicional (Traditional healer / medicine man)

Mtu dhaifu (Weak person)

Processus certification (Kimberley process)