Browse African Slang

Kuwa mgonjwa (To be sick)

Kuunga/kuchanganya (Mixing/combining)

Giving support

Vendre (To sell)

Selling fruits

Vendre au détail (Retail selling)

Vendre au marché (Sell at market)

Kuva hejuru (From above - from authority)

Kuvaa vizuri (To dress well)

A Shona phrase meaning “to open big,” used to mean doing something *extra risky or breaking a big taboo*.

A Shona word meaning “to be open,” used in slang to describe someone who *can’t keep a secret* or who *blabs*.

Kuvoma inka (To milk a cow - to benefit)

Catching fish

Kuvuga flow (To speak smoothly/rap)

Kuvuga induru (To speak loudly/shout)

Kuvuga ukuri (To tell truth)

Kuvugana (To talk to each other)

Récolter (To harvest)

To harvest/get paid

Kuharibu (To mess up / disturb)

Kukhala wolemera / Kukhala ndi zinthu (To be rich / have things)

To be high (on substances) or to be on top/successful.

To be in good shape or doing well.

Kuwa na mchumba (To have someone)

Kuwa na hasira (To be angry)

Storing food

Installing clean water

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)

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

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).

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

Kuzunguruka (To go around/tour)

Kw'isoko (At the market)

Kwa (Over there)

Kwa (Over there)

Kwa godimo (Above)

For sure

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

Kwa hiyo/kwa sababu (Therefore/because)

Kwa kawaida/kwa utaratibu (Usually/normally)

Kwa morago (Behind)