African Slang Words Starting With "K"

Kuumia/kuwa na shida (To suffer/have problems)

Kupata mafanikio (To achieve success)

Kushinda (To succeed)

Kupita mitihani (To pass examinations)

Passing exam

Kuhisi (To feel)

To die for something/love intensely

Kuzorora (To rest/relax)

Kuda zvakanyanya (crushing on)

Kuopa / Kuchita mantha (To fear / be scared)

Kuwa online (To be online)

Kumaliza jambo (To finish something)

Kuchita bwino / Kupambana (To succeed / make it)

Kuwasili mahali (To arrive somewhere)

Kumaliza kabisa (To finish completely)

To squeeze financially

Kukundikana (To fail)

Kusahau mambo yote (To forget everything)

To force things or fake it.

Kuenda nyuma ya gari (To go behind a vehicle)

Following stars

Revival of practices

Kulea wanyamapori (To raise livestock)

To cleanse spiritually

To think or ponder

(Swahili) Being caught in the act (usually of cheating). If someone amefumaniwa, it means their spouse or partner caught...

Medicine steaming

Teaching customs

Literally 'to close/fast,' but in slang can mean to succeed or seal a deal.

Kufunga gari la serikali (To lock government vehicle)

Kumaliza biashara (To close a deal)

Kuongea mambo ya moyoni (To open up emotionally)

Kukamatwa (To be arrested)

“To be braked,” meaning to get a sudden stop put to your plans (often used in dating if someone gets rejected).

To ask

To smell bad

Kwa kifupi (In short)

Kuwa na furaha (To be happy)

Kupata raha katika jambo (To get pleasure in something)

Maji kujaa sehemu (Water filling an area)

To divine/foretell

To cook (Tonga)

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

To tuck tail i.e. back down.

Kugabanya (To reduce/divide)

To think

Kugaragaza (To demonstrate)

Kugaruka inyuma (To regress)

Kushiriki fedha (Sharing money)

Kuvuga ibitagira akamaro (To talk nonsense)