Browse African Slang

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 ...

Kupambana / Kuchita bwino (To win / succeed)

Porc-épic (Porcupine)

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

To vibe; enjoy

Kutchuka / Kudziwika (To become famous / known)

Mexer / agitar (To move / shake)

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)

Urban slang meaning *to chill idly or loaf around* (possibly from “zombie” – doing nothing with blank mind).

Kuharibu jambo kwa makusudi au kwa bahati mbaya (To ruin something intentionally or by bad luck)

Kuzunguruka (To go around/tour)

Kw'isoko (At the market)

Kwa (Over there)

Adds dismissiveness, like “only” or “just” (often to downplay).

Kwa godimo (Above)

Kwa hakika/bila shaka (For sure/without doubt)

For sure

Kwa hiyo/kwa sababu (Therefore/because)

Kwa kawaida/kwa utaratibu (Usually/normally)

Kwa morago (Behind)

Kwa sababu gani? (Why?)

Kwa ntle (Outside)

Kwa pele (In front)

Kwa sasa/wakti huu (For now/this time)

Tout le monde (Everyone)

Kwa tlase (Below)

Okwata ongila / angry (Angry)

Literally 'angry' in Afrikaans, but slang-wise it means 'cool,' 'excellent' or 'rad.' Calling something kwaai in Namibia...

Literally 'angry' in Afrikaans, but slang-wise it means 'cool,' 'excellent' or 'rad.' Calling something kwaai in Namibia...

"Kwaai" in Afrikaans originally means angry, but slang-wise it has come to mean "cool" or "excellent." So "kwaai vibes" ...

علاقة الأفارقة (Black African connection)

Kwacoco (Cocoyam porridge)

Bahati njema (Goodbye)

Kwa heri/kuaga (Goodbye/farewell)