Browse African Slang

Echo, but slang for gossip that keeps being repeated around.

Mwanza/mji (Mwanza/city)

Good beginning

You spoke well (Appreciation)

Mwaramutse (Good morning)

Femme, femelle (Woman, female)

Ma femme/copine (My woman/girlfriend)

Ma femme (My wife)

Warm-hearted woman

Maîtresse (Mistress)

Como passou o dia em sena (How was your day in Sena)

Muli bwanji / Chani (How are / what)

Bien/Bon (Good/Well)

Mwembamba/mtu mwembamba (Thin/skinny person)

Island mango

Polepole ndio mwendo (Slowly is the way)

Mwenendo/tabia (Behavior/character)

A Zambian term for a person of Indian or Asian origin (from Swahili, in Zambia often refers to Zambian-Indians).

Mwenyeji/mtu wa nyumbani (Host/home person)

Mwenyekiti/kiongozi (Chairperson/leader)

Mweupe/mtu wa rangi nyeupe (White/light-skinned person)

Mweusi/mtu wa rangi nyeusi (Black/dark-skinned person)

Big moon

“It’s trending/it’s hot right now” (literally “the moon is hot”) (Origin: Chichewa slang)

Mwili/mzigo wa roho (Body/soul carrier)

Noir, africain (Black person, African)

Mwiriwe (Good afternoon/evening)

Fin (End) - Swahili

Good ending

“End of the railway,” meaning the ultimate end or fed up.

Mwituni/ndani ya msitu (In the forest)

Mwizi/mtu anayeiba (Thief/person who steals)

“A thief is just a thief,” said to shrug that a person’s nature won’t change.

Ngoma ya Kikuyu (Kikuyu dance)

Mwongo/mtu wa uongo (Liar/person of lies)

Tour guide

Life guidance

A dismissive clicking of the tongue, written as 'mxm.' A sound often transcribed in texts expressing annoyance, disbelie...

My mistake (I'm sorry)

My love/Sweetheart (My darling)

A slang term for "my girl" or girlfriend. "Cherry" is township slang for a pretty girl or one's female love interest. It...

Slang for "my friend" or "my mate." "China" comes from Cockney rhyming slang (China plate = mate) and in South Africa it...

Term of endearment/Friend (My dear)

A viral Afrikaans-English saying that translates to "My f**k, Marilize." It became popular after a meme, and it's used t...

My friend/Sister (My lady)

My guy (My friend)

Zimbabwean youth English habit of calling a friend “my guy,” meaning bro/buddy. It’s unisex despite “guy.”

My guy (My friend)

Friend, dude

My love/Sweetheart (Darling)