Browse African Slang

Kupungua nguvu (To lose energy / come down)

Kudandaula / Kukalipa (To complain / get angry)

Kulankhula zambiri / Kukalipa (To talk angrily / complain a lot)

Hello. A warm Krio greeting equivalent to 'hi' or 'welcome'. When you arrive, people might say 'Kushɛ!' to greet you

Éventail (Fan)

La mousson arrive (Monsoon arrives)

Cultivar, semear (To cultivate, sow)

Dança Balanta (Balanta dance)

Processing fruits

Kuchita zinthu zokumbukiridwa / Kusiya chizindikiro (To leave a legacy / make history)

Kutilia maanani (To be impressed)

Kuingia DM (To slide into DMs)

Kugcoka indzabuko (Traditional circumcision)

Reading prayers

Kujifunza kwa juhudi kubwa (To learn with great effort)

Reading waves

Kusoma usiku kucha (To study overnight)

Reading rosary

Kutembea polepole kama mzee (To walk slowly like an elder)

Kutembea kwa utulivu (To walk calmly)

To be broke or struggle financially.

Slang derived from Shona, meaning to be broke or penniless (literally “to be dry”).

Kumwa mowa / Kuledzera (To drink alcohol / get drunk)

Fusion of traditional and modern dance moves

Kushangaa na jambo (To be surprised by something)

Kufuata mtu mtandaoni (To stalk someone online)

Kuelewa (To understand)

Kungoja gari (To wait for vehicle)

Kukhala moyo / Kupulumuka (To stay alive / survive)

Kukwiya / Kukhala wokwiya (To be angry / hold grudge)

Kurudia mtihani (To retake an exam)

A Shona verb meaning to hustle through multiple small jobs or activities. It's like 'scrambling around.' If someone is k...

Taraweh prayers

Kukhala wokongola / Kuwala (To be beautiful / shine)

ቁጣ/ከፊል ቀሚስ (Half dress)

Kutafuta kazi (To look for work)

To look for money

Kujitahidi kupata kipato (To struggle to get income)

Kutafuta mpenzi wa maisha (Looking for the one)

Kutajana (Not to get along)

Kutamenya (Not to know)

Kuongoza kwa utawala (To lead with authority)

Kusokonekera / Kusowa nzeru (To be confused / lose sense)

Kukhala wokongola / Kukoma (To be beautiful / attractive)

Kupita / Kuchoka (To go / leave)

Kuthawa / Kuchoka mwachangu (To run away / leave quickly)

Umtsimba wesiSwati (Swati wedding)

Literally 'to spit,' but in slang means to speak or rap.

Kutembea kwa miguu (To walk)

Kusintha khalidwe / Kukhala wina (To change behavior / become different)