Browse African Slang

Bad luck tide

Hena-drano / Tide

Responsible person/official (Arabic)

مسؤول - Manager/Responsible person

Masa (Rice cakes)

مساء الخير Bonsoir (Good evening)

مساء الخير - مساء الخير (Good evening)

Good evening (Arabic)

Esprits ancestraux (Ancestral spirits)

Long scarf

مصاري - نقود (Money - alternative term)

Dançarinos rituais (Ritual dancers)

Toxic masculinity

Masculinité positive (Positive masculinity)

Toxic masculine

Masepa (Nonsense/Rubbish)

Maikutlo a Maseru / Maseru feeling

مسقوف (Grilled fish)

To ruin or destroy (popular via music Patois lyrics).

ما شاء الله - ما شاء الله (what God willed)

ما شاء الله (What God has willed)

God has willed it; expressing admiration

ما شاء الله (What God has willed)

Mashallah/kama Mungu alivyotaka (As God willed)

God has blessed (Arabic-Somali religious expression)

Dieu l'a voulu belle (God willed it beautiful)

مشغول - Busy

Okay, alright, going.

Alright, okay, agreed.

“I’m not the one who said \[it],” used to distance oneself from gossip or a blunt truth. Usage: Mashi ana li golt but pe...

Impossible

ማሽላ/ማሽላ (Mashila) - sorghum

Mashindano/mapambano (Competition/contests)

Drum competitions

Strength competitions

Washing machine

A township term for a loan shark – someone who lends money informally at high interest. Mashonisas prey on those who can...

Mashonzha (Mopane worms)

Literally “project,” used to mean someone’s significant other or crush (a running joke as if they are a “project” you’re...

Siku ya mashujaa (Heroes day)

Mchanganyiko wa nyimbo (Song mixture)

Means “okay” or “all right” (literally “walking”). Often said to indicate agreement or that all is good.

Doing something wrong.

Msimu wa mvua kubwa (Heavy rain season)

Masikio/viungo vya kusikia (Ears/hearing organs)

Masikoro / Foko Masikoro

ማሲላ/ማሲላ (Masila) - harvest season

Tšimo / Polasi (Fields / Farm)

Masina / Sacred

Véhicule/machine (Vehicle/machine)