Browse African Slang

Slang for those sweet round buns sold by street vendors (word “Bono” possibly mimicking shape or brand).

Cartons of the traditional opaque beer (Chibuku Shake-Shake), called so because <a href="/word/they-come" class="interna...

Bottled beer (commercial lager) – *pint* referring to beer.

Money, cash (<a href="/word/slang" class="internal-link" title="View definition of Slang">slang</a> term, plural form us...

Nicknames for Chibuku opaque beer (since it’s made from fermented maize; *blueprint* because one brand has a blue carton...

Means “mother” in Nyanja but slang-wise used to affectionately refer to any older woman or mom (like “mama”).

From Nyanja meaning “crazy” (literally “mad/craziness” – possibly from French *mal* via Congo). It describes someone act...

To leave or go (like “make myself scarce”; possibly from “muzakata” or English “hit the mat” to run).

Comes from English “mate,” used to mean friend.

Derived from phrase “no words” (nyaulele) meaning speechless or shocked (literally “ma-u-less” – without words).

In Zed slang, “Mazoe” (a popular Zimbabwean orange drink) came to mean exams leaked papers (because students would code ...

A heavy slap or punch.

To improvise a solution with limited resources (from the TV <a href="/word/show" class="internal-link" title="View defin...

One million Kwacha (old currency), or now colloquially any “million” even in Kwacha rebased.

Delicious grilled meat (especially at a bar or braai, *chopo* meaning roasted meat pieces).

From *“milo”* (lips) – means kissing or making out.

A derogatory term for a slow or “dumb” person (offensive – implies someone who is not right in the head).

Very attractive girls; “hot babes.”

A person of mixed race (coloured). Used descriptively.

Means “friend” or “brother” in Bemba (literally “friend”). Often used as a warm address.

A white person/foreigner (common in many African countries, not derogatory in itself, just descriptive).

A friendly way to refer to someone (literally “child/young one,” but used like “dude/buddy”).

A Zambian term for a person of Indian or Asian origin (from Swahili, in Zambia often refers to Zambian-Indians).