Browse African Slang

Message (Communication)

Potter (Clay worker)

Head game (Memory play)

Nine (Almost ten)

Hunter (Game tracker)

Rain (Precipitation)

Seasonal rain (Timely rain)

Baby; child

Life is short (Brief existence)

A slang phrase declaring one's hope or plan is left "in God's hands." In financial contexts, saying you'll do something ...

A slang phrase declaring one's hope or plan is left "in God's hands." In financial contexts, saying you'll do something ...

On and off (Unstable relationship)

Acting crazy or high (as if under the drug “Colorado”).

Quoi de neuf? (What's up?)

Quoi de neuf? (What's up?)

On dit quoi? (What's up?)

On y est (We're in it)

On est dos à dos (We're even)

Literally 'we are together,' used just like the English phrase to express solidarity or friendship. Common in Niger to s...

On est solidaires (We're together)

Literally “we are together.” In Togo this is a warm, all-purpose reply to merci, akin to “no worries, we’re in this toge...

Literally “we are together,” used in Senegal too as a friendly farewell or solidarity phrase.

On est ensemble (We're together - solidarity)

Nous sommes unis (We are united)

La jeunesse ne dure pas (You're only young once)

On est présent (We're here)

On est où là? (Where are we now?)

On se débrouille (We make do)

On s'adapte (We make do)

On procède ainsi (We do it like that)

On fait comment? (How do we do it?)

Comment procéder? (How do we proceed?)

اون فاير (On fire)

Kuhle/kuphelele (Nice/perfect)

Performing well.

On gère (We manage)

Literally "on my porch" (from Afrikaans), but used to indicate something is right at your doorstep or nearby. People use...

Les problèmes continuent (We're not out of the woods)

Kudlala njalo (Playing always)

On se voit (We'll meet)

On se sort d'affaire (We get by)

On organise ça (We'll organize that)

On se voit (See you)

Liberian twist: meaning to be in a difficult situation. If someone says 'I'm on the cutting edge,' they mean they're in ...

To be around or present in a scene.

Turn on light (Switch on)

On the rocks (With ice)

Fi wagt (In time)

Punctual arrival (Schedule kept)

In addition to; besides