Browse African Slang

Arachides (Peanuts)

Roast pork

Porco selvagem (Wild boar)

Dur, difficile (Hard, difficult) - Swahili

Houe (Hoe)

Catfish

Mavazi (Clothes)

Nguo/mavazi (Clothes/clothing)

Much strength

Youth power

Power poles

Cultural pillars

Ngw'iki? (Like what?) - Questioning

Ngwaga (Year)

Ngwana (Child)

Ngwana yo o sa leleng o swela tharing (Child who doesn't cry dies on mother's back)

Ngwanaka (My child)

Ngwanatsele (November)

Kuku wa kienyeji (Local chicken)

Boîte de nuit (Nightclub)

Ngwedi (Moon)

Slang for a henchman or sidekick friend (similar to *fuzi*).

Crocodilo (Crocodile)

Scar (metaphor for past struggle).

Literally 'person from under the sea.' A playful term for a foreigner from Europe (white person). In folklore, those fro...

“Sleep” or “sleepiness” (like the state of sleep). Usage: Ngól ezoboma ngai na classe – Sleepiness is killing me in clas...

Meu amigo (My friend)

Meu coração (My heart/love)

Minha mãe (My mother)

Pessoa de Inhambane (Person from Inhambane)

Pessoa do grupo étnico Nhaneca-Humbe (Person from Nhaneca-Humbe ethnic group)

Day

Day

نهار جديد - يوم جديد (new day)

Copper

Allah fo'g (God above - Dinka)

Jogo de pedrinhas (Stone game)

To be kept waiting indefinitely or to 'hang around' without resolution. Used when someone is stringing you along

Antílope (Antelope)

Literally 'he is bogari (handsome).' Bogari (from French 'beau gars' meaning handsome guy) means he's hot

Ni ukweli (It's true)

I am Lozi (Identity)

Ni vyo (That's it - agreement)

Ni we! (It's him/her!) - Pointing out

Idiot, stupide (Idiot, stupid)

What's up? greeting asking what's going on.

La viande/l'argent (Meat/money slang)

Ambiance de boîte (Club vibe)

Fétiche puissant (Powerful fetish)

Selvagem de Niassa (Niassa wild)