Browse African Slang

Bairro histórico de Maputo (Historic Maputo neighborhood)

Be fitiavana / Tsara fanahy (Warm hearted / Kind)

Najah (Success - Swahili)

Major achievements

Kufanikiwa katika shughuli za kimaisha (Succeeding in livelihood activities)

“No problem,” often said to downplay issues.

Maikutlo a Mafeteng / Mafeteng feeling

مفهمتش - I didn't understand

There isn't; don't have

Mafia, crime organisé (Mafia, organized crime) - Italian

Literally “hyenas,” slang for guys who lurk around flirting with many girls (prowling men).

Mafoko a kgotla a mantle otlhe (All words at kgotla are beautiful)

Traditional teachings

Mafunzo/elimu ya kazi (Training/work education)

Religious training

Job training

Skills training

Mafunzo ya uongozi (Leadership training)

Mafunzo ya vitendo (Practical training)

Lebese / Mafura a khomo (Milk / Cow oil)

Melemo / Benefits

Major floods

Rain floods

Árvore de óleo (Oil tree)

Much oil

Medicinal oil

Tsy mora voatohina / Matotra (Strong willed / Determined)

Sauce arachide (Peanut sauce)

Dialect for 'There's none like it' – used to praise something as the best.

In Nigerian scam parlance, maga refers to a gullible victim, especially one who sends money to a fraudster. By extension...

A victim of a scam or a 'fool' in Nigerian Pidgin. Scammers call their gullible targets maga or mugu (meaning fool) whil...

City center

Small town

Your name? (Somali short form)

Magaeng (In the villages)

Distrito litorâneo (Littoral district)

Grande boutique (Store)

Magazeti/majarida (Newspapers/publications)

Chauffeur de taxi en Susu (Taxi driver in Susu)

My crew / my people.

Shona word for “electricity” (used often during power cuts).

Unreliable electricity (lit. 'lights that go')" (Chichewa slang)

Mageu (Traditional drink)

Market reforms

Literally 'sucker.' Used to refer to a fool who is being duped, especially the victim of a scam. Also used jokingly amon...

Maggi (2-minute noodles)

Maggi (Seasoning cube)

Magharibi/wakati wa jioni (Evening/sunset time)

Defeated

مغرب - Sunset