Browse African Slang

Follow each other

Assurance groupe (Mutual insurance)

Mutual fund

Health insurance

Nyama ya kukaanga (Grilled intestines)

Utumbo maalum (Special intestines)

Transport, taxi (Transport, taxi) - slang

Ancião respeitado (Respected elder)

Luba dance

Instrumento de corda (String instrument)

Traditional bread (Somali)

Muuguzi/msaidizi wa daktari (Nurse/doctor assistant)

Muungano/kuunganika (Union/joining)

Music (Somali from Italian)

Muvandimwe (My sibling)

Jambo kwa Kitaita (Hello in Taita)

Coração / sentimento (Heart / feeling)

Floresta / mata (Forest / woods)

Street hustler, often used affectionately for a witty friend.

A street-smart hustler, sometimes with connotations of petty criminal or mischievous youth.

Street-smart tricks or cunning behavior.

Música alta (Loud music)

Musique (Music)

Good music

Religious music

Muziki wa moja kwa moja (Live music)

Taarab music

Prato de peixe seco (Dried fish dish)

A white person/foreigner (common in many African countries, not derogatory in itself, just descriptive).

Bien (Good) - Swahili

Muñ rek (Just be patient)

Art oratoire fang (Fang oral art)

Paresseux (Lazy)

Mvivu/mtu asiye na bidii (Lazy/person without effort)

Mvog (Neighborhood prefix)

Rain

Pluie (Rain)

Pluie (Rain)

Much rain

Blessed rain

Blessed rain

Blessed rain

Mvua ya kilimo (Planting rains)

Mvua ya msimu mkuu (Long rains)

Long rains

Annual rains

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

Mvuke/hewa ya joto (Steam/heat air)

Pluie (Rain)

Pluie (Rain)