Browse African Slang

Apresentador da festa (Party presenter)

Vila de Mabalane (Mabalane village)

Roupas de marca ou de alta qualidade (Brand name or high quality clothes)

Distrito de Macanga (Macanga district)

Terreno agrícola, roça (Agricultural land, farm)

Autocarro grande (Big bus)

Fronteira com Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe border)

Distrito de Macomia (Macomia district)

Praia da Beira (Beira beach)

Anoitecer (Dusk)

Responsável feminina espiritual (Female spiritual guardian)

Horas tardias da noite (Late night hours)

Inhame, tubérculo (Yam, tuber)

Bairro histórico de Maputo (Historic Maputo neighborhood)

Árvore de óleo (Oil tree)

Distrito litorâneo (Littoral district)

Bebida tradicional de milho (Traditional corn drink)

Bebida tradicional fermentada de milho (Traditional fermented corn drink)

Corrida tradicional (Traditional race)

Como está em ndau (How are you in Ndau)

Fazer história (Make history)

Fazer acontecer (Make moves)

Povo e língua Makonde (Makonde people and language)

Amigos em changana (Friends in Changana)

Pessoa que vive de esquemas (Person who lives off schemes)

'Crazy' – often exclaimed as a tease when someone does something wild. Mozambican pronunciation adds an 'o' (malouco)

Mãe, mamã (Mother, mom)

Crocodilo temido nos rios (Feared crocodile in rivers)

Vender ou negociar (To sell or trade)

Seleção nacional de futebol (National football team)

Borrowed from Swahili (through Tanzania), mambo means 'thing' or 'matter' – similar to cena

Distrito de Mandimba (Mandimba district)

Tubérculo (Cassava)

Festa de rua, evento ao ar livre (Street party, outdoor event)

A word meaning 'very' or 'a lot,' used for emphasis (originating from Shona maningi). Often combined with nice as maning...

A phrase meaning 'very nice', hugely popular in Mozambican Portuguese and also recognized in Guinea-Bissau slang. Maning...

Muito sol ou calor intenso (Very sunny or intense heat)

Expressão de desacordo forte (Expression of strong disagreement)

Distrito de Manjacaze (Manjacaze district)

Literally 'brother/sister' in Portuguese, used figuratively like 'bro' or 'sis' to address friends or peers

Cara a cara (Face to face)

Irmão mais velho respeitado (Respected older brother)

An idiot or simpleton. Used to call someone foolish (sometimes affectionately among friends)

Dança dos Makonde (Makonde dance)

Sorgo (Sorghum)

Pessoa de Maputo (Person from Maputo)

Usado para referir zona sul/rica (Used to refer to southern/rich area)

Noites de Maputo (Maputo nights)

Maquiar-se ou embelezar-se (To put on makeup or beautify)

Grife moçambicana (Mozambican brand)