Browse African Slang

Profit/Bénéfice (Profit/Benefit)

نفس (Breath / moment)

Job vacancies

Extra prayers

نفسك - Yourself

Anyway or to emphasize a point (Origin: Wolof/Senegalese)

Naga (Veld/Bush)

نجاح - Success/Pass

ናጋ/ሰላም (Peace - Oromo)

Nageng (In the veld/countryside)

Swim

Nageur (Swimmer)

Thank you (Thanks)

Ho nahana ruri / To nahana ruri

النهاردة - اليوم (Today)

Nahau/lugha ya picha (Idioms/picture language)

Thin

Literally 'a burned/bad day,' used when something terrible happens or it's an unlucky day. It's like saying 'What a disa...

Nickname for Nigeria

A popular saying meaning 'Nigerians never come in last.' It reflects the hustler spirit – Nigerians always strive to suc...

Tense competition (Nervous game)

የጥፍር ቀለም/የጥፍር ቀለም (Yetifir kelem) - nail polish

Skinder by nail salon (Gossip at nail salon)

Nail artist/Manicurist (Nail expert)

Art des ongles (Nail art)

نيلد ات (Nailed it)

Copperbelt slang meaning *“I know/understand,”* often said as interjection (possibly from “I know loss”?).

Petite entreprise (Small company) - metaphor

In Nigeria, even though 'NairaBET' is a betting company, people use 'nairabet' colloquially to mean any sports betting h...

Nairobi ni kipekee (Nairobi is unique)

Baridi ya Nairobi (Nairobi cold)

Carpenter

كيف حالك (How are you)

Good morning (Morning greeting)

To learn the ropes or get initiated (from Nyanja meaning “to cut the line” – i.e., get into business).

Used to tease someone who’s slow or late.

ናቕፋ - ኤርትራዊ ባጤራ (Nakfa - Eritrean currency)

ናቕፋ ፕራይድ - ኩርዓት ናቕፋ (Nakfa pride - City pride)

Palm trees

Obrigado em makhuwa (Thank you in Makhuwa)

Nako (Time)

Nako e (It's time)

I can't

Nakomsé (Royal family)

(Swahili) 'I love you.' The straightforward phrase for expressing love in East Africa. One might add sana to say Nakupen...

Naledi (Star)

نالوت (Nalut)

Short for Namibia (used proudly or as shorthand)" ("Namlish")

Namibian music style (Namibian hip-hop)

Namibian music (Local songs)