African Slang Words Starting With "M"

Two (Pair)

A heavy slap or punch.

Protesãu mágika (Proteção mágica) (Magic protection)

Wrestling

Village (Village)

Mbandjock (Reference to sugar town)

Respect du chef (Chief respect)

Classic slang for 20 shillings (literally 'a plank of wood,' perhaps from a time a board cost 20/-). Still used widely.

Mbaqanga (Township jive)

Mbarara (Mbarara)

Mbarara Uni (Mbarara University)

Mbare (Township in Harare)

Mbare Market

Slang for pants/trousers (from French *bas*?), used when talking fashion.

Mbaxana neex na (The traditional dress is nice)

Argent (Money)

Mauvais (Bad) - Swahili

While it means 'bad' in standard Swahili, in slang it can mean 'cool/awesome' (similar to 'sick' in English).

While it means 'bad' in standard Swahili, in slang it can mean 'cool/awesome' (similar to 'sick' in English).

Mbe! (Well!) - Starting a story

Mouse (thief)

Mbeera (Airtime)

Mbegu/vitu vya kupanda (Seeds/planting things)

Msingi wa jambo jipya (Foundation of something new)

Quality seeds

Good seeds

Native seeds

Faka grandi (Faca grande) (Big knife)

Baadaye (Later)

Roasted meat

Mtu wa Bena kutoka Iringa (Bena person from Iringa)

Various slang for a coward or weak person (each colorful – yuma is fool, mobobé is weakling). Usage: Azalaki kosakana lo...

Mbeng (Abroad/overseas)

France, Europe (France, Europe)

Mbeng man (Person from abroad)

Prochain/autre fois (Next time/another time)

Mbere-khaki (Police officer)

Mbeya/mji (Mbeya/city)

Timu ya Mbeya (Mbeya team)

Mbi (Bad)

Je suis là (I'm here/I'm fine)

Bhasikoro (bicycle)

Sauce de graines (Seed sauce)

Poisson salé (Salted fish)

Maestro de preparación de mbika (Mbika preparation master)

Slang for police officer (Mbila from old term, Waya-waya mimics a siren). Usage: Mbila ezali ebele lelo na munu – Many c...

Tshifhatuwo (Heart)

Mbindi (Black person/African)

Slang (urban) for a rich person or “baller” who spends big (Chichewa/Nyanja origin, popularized in Zim youth talk).

Mbinguni/peponi (Heaven/paradise)