Browse African Slang

Mama/mwanamke (Mom/woman)

Mama (Mother - respectful address)

Savings group leader

Slang referring to Algeria affectionately (dz = DZ, country code). Usage: Gotta love Mama dz – beaches, mountains, deser...

Younger aunt

Mwanamke anayeuza chakula (Woman who sells food)

Food vendor lady

Muuzaji mboga (Vegetable seller)

Petite sœur (Little sister)

Mama pikin (Food vendor)

Mama wa Kichagga (Chagga mother)

Mwanamke anayeuza chai (Woman who sells tea)

Mwanamke anayeuza mavazi (Woman who sells clothes)

Mwanamke anayeuza samaki (Woman who sells fish)

Mama wacu (Our mother - respected woman)

Mama's boy (Mother's favorite)

طبخ الأم (Mom's cooking)

Mère Afrique (Mother Africa)

ማማችዬ/ማማችዬ (Mamachuye) - my dear (feminine)

Nom générique pour homme musulman (Generic name for Muslim man)

Grand-mère (Grandmother)

Vraiment (Really)

Neny / Mom

Mère commerçante (Trading mother)

Mère courageuse

Maman inquiète (Worried mother)

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)

Comer, disfrutar comida (To eat, enjoy food)

Literally 'things/affairs' in Swahili, used as a casual 'hi.' One says 'mambo?' and the other might reply 'poa' or 'fres...

Informal 'hi' similar to saying 'things?' to check in.

Assunto / situação (Matter / situation)

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

Mambo (What's up - from Swahili)

Keif el hal? (How are things? - from Swahili)

Mambo safi (Things are good)

Hali tatu tu (Only three options)

Kuna mengi ya kufanya (There's much to do)

Popular Kiswahili saying: “Issues are many, hours are few” (so no time to waste). Often quoted to mean let’s get to the ...

Literally 'hard thing,' meaning something really cool or impressive. If something is top-notch or awesome, it's a mambo ...

“How are things?” (informal). Often shortened to just “Mambo!”.

What's up

Habari yako? (How are you?)

Means 'things/stuff,' same as in Angola. Instead of coisas, people say mambos for casual reference to matters or items

Fog

Mamela / Tsy mitazona lolom-po (Forgive / Not hold grudge)

Ho mamela ka thata / To mamela ka thata

Mamelona / Manome fiainana (Give life / Support)