Browse African Slang

Time for improvement

Different tiers of success.

Se lever tôt (Wake up early)

Leverage opportunities (Use opportunities)

Literally 'to carry,' but youth use levá to mean to steal or snatch. If something got lifted, they'll say levaram

End of mourning

Lewatle (Sea/Large water body)

ለውጥ/ለውጥ (Change)

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

Gossip or rumor (also spelled *lewtou*).

Cours (Lesson)

Leçon apprise (Lesson learned)

Leçon enseignée (Lesson taught)

Leçon de vie (Life lesson)

Meat

There

اللي فات مات - ما مضى قد مات (what passed is dead)

Literally 'he sold his pig,' a colloquial expression meaning 'he broke into his savings (piggy bank)'. Used when someone...

Manger, consommer (To eat, consume)

Slang referring to a Congolese of Brazzaville (across river). Used in jokes about accents or rivalry. Usage: Alobi “mbot...

Passif (Liability)

Liability (Debt)

Liane (Vine)

ልብ/ልብ (Lib) - attention/heart

Mariage (Marriage)

Traditional wedding

Church wedding

Dehors, extérieur (Outside)

Pierre, caillou (Stone, rock)

Danse traditionnelle (Traditional dance)

Libation (Ritual pouring)

Offrande liquide (Liquid offering)

Makes traditional offerings

Mauvaise personne (Bad person)

Ancestors' legacy

Ancien opérateur (Former operator)

Eternal freedom

Paper freedom

Real freedom

Liberdade (Freedom)

Our culture/Style (Liberian way)

Liberté (Freedom)

Droit de parler (Freedom of expression)

Protective charm

Papillote de poisson (Fish in leaves)

Captain fish wrap

Stupide, idiot (Stupid, idiot)

Avant, devant (Before, in front)

Before time

مكتبات محلية (Local libraries)