Browse African Slang

Kushinda bahati nasibu (To win a bet)

Kupoteza (To lose)

Kushindwa/kupoteza (Defeat/losing)

Sharing together

Sharing together

Home cooperation

Cooperating together

Kushona/kuunganisha nguo (Sewing/clothing joining)

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)

Mousson du sud (South monsoon)

La mousson arrive (Monsoon arrives)

Rainy southwest monsoon

Écouter (To listen)

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 Quran

Reading prayers

Reading stories

Reading waves

Kusoma usiku kucha (To study overnight)

Reading rosary

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

Mériter (To deserve)

Kufuata mtu mtandaoni (To stalk someone online)

Kuelewa (To understand)

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...

Prier à l'aube (Dawn prayer)

Taraweh prayers

Kukhala wokongola / Kuwala (To be beautiful / shine)

ቁጣ/ከፊል ቀሚስ (Half dress)

Sourire (To smile)

Kutafuta kazi (To look for work)

To look for money

Kutafuta mpenzi wa maisha (Looking for the one)

Kutajana (Not to get along)