Browse African Slang

Résidence seniors moderne (Modern retirement home)

Demeure familiale (Family home)

Maison des parents (Parents' house)

From maison (“house”), this Togolese French slang refers to a homebody – someone who stays home a lot.

Responsable femme (Female manager)

Maitresse (Mistress)

Maitseboa (In the evening)

Mora sosotra / Mora tezitra (Easily upset / Quick tempered)

Mora / Tsy sarotra (Easy / Not difficult)

Shona exclamation meaning “Oh my goodness!” or “Oh no!” (expressing shock or concern).

Maize (Corn)

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

Majani/mimea midogo (Grass/small plants)

Majaribio/kujaribisha (Trials/testing)

Water

Maji ni uhai (Water is life)

Clean water

Maji ya nazi kijani (Green coconut water)

Medicinal water

Maji ya nazi (Coconut water)

River water

Octopus season

Dry seasons

Ranta tse peli / R2 (Two rand / R2)

Majita (Guys/Friends)

Guys or dudes (friends in a group). (Origin: Tsotsitaal, from Zulu “amadoda”)

مجنون (Crazy / mad)

Insane

Majojo (Iron smelting site)

Top of class

Clé du succès (Major key)

ماجوريل بلو - أزرق ماجوريل (Majorelle blue)

Fanba, caman ye (Big part, majority)

Majukumu ya kazi (Work responsibilities)

Avy Mahajanga / Sakalava (From Mahajanga / Sakalava)

Means 'overseas/abroad,' from 'juu' (above). Kenyans use majuu to refer to Western countries or anywhere abroad.

Means 'overseas/abroad,' from 'juu' (above). Kenyans use majuu to refer to Western countries or anywhere abroad.

In Bissau-Guinean Creole and informal Portuguese, maka means a 'problem' or 'trouble'. It's used similarly to West Afric...

Mandreraka / Mampahory (Exhausting / Troublesome)

Charcoal

Makabila ya nchi (Country tribes)

Makaburi ya jamii (Community cemeteries)

Como está em ndau (How are you in Ndau)

Budget estimates

In Shona it means “you’re bad,” but slang-wise it’s a playful compliment for something cool or a way to say thanks (“you...

Clouds

Macaco (Monkey/Troublemaker)

Charbon de bois (Charcoal)

Poulet braisé (Grilled chicken)

Barbecue (BBQ)