Browse African Slang

Pluie (Rain)

Matar shadid (Heavy rain - from Swahili)

Rain

Matar byinzil (It's raining)

Mvua inayonyesha kwa nguvu (Rain that falls heavily)

Much rain

Blessed rain

Mvua ya kilimo (Planting rains)

Mvua ya msimu mkuu (Long rains)

Annual rains

A rich person (“moneyed one”). Usage: Ye mvuandu ya quartier – He’s the rich guy of the neighborhood.

Mvuke/moshi (Steam/smoke)

Pluie (Rain)

Chuva (Rain)

Heavy rain

Mtu anayesubiri (Patient person)

Traditional fisherman

Bien, bon en fang (Good, well in Fang)

Bisous (Kisses)

You’ve run off/escaped" (Chichewa)

Mwajiri/mtu anayeajiri (Employer/person who employs)

Mwaka mpya/mwanzo wa mwaka (New year/year beginning)

Professeur (Teacher) - Swahili

Mtu wa elimu (Education person)

Head teacher

Mwalimu wa juu (Senior teacher)

Mwalimu mwenye mamlaka (Teacher with authority)

Quran teacher

Mtu anayefundisha desturi (Person who teaches traditions)

Mwalimu wa teknolojia mpya (Teacher of new technology)

Mtu anayefundisha maisha (Person who teaches about life)

Mtu thabiti na wa kuaminika (Stable and trustworthy person)

Coral reef

Huit (Eight)

King/chief (Eastern DRC)

Mtu wa kuaminiwa (Trustworthy person)

Mtu anayeaminika (Trustworthy person)

Child

Mwana (Child)

Mtoto/kijana (Child/youth)

Enfant (Child)

Child

Mwana FA/msanii (Mwana FA/artist)

All casual address terms like “dude/buddy” in Lingala slang (mwana mayi = child of water, oncle = uncle, etc.). Usage: E...

Compatriote (Compatriot)

Insult: 'son of a dog'" (Chichewa)

Rich kid

A friendly way to refer to someone (literally “child/young one,” but used like “dude/buddy”).

Mwanamke kwa Kitaita (Woman in Taita)

Mwanafunzi/mtalii (Student/learner)