Browse African Slang

Ujumbe wa faragha (Private message)

Paka/mtu mwerevu (Cat/clever person)

Woven basket, used in phrase “amebebwa na pakacha” meaning someone got pregnant (colloquial gentle way).

Pala/mnyama wa michezo (Impala/game animal)

Panzi/mtu mrembo (Butterfly/beautiful person)

Sherehe/karamu (Party/celebration)

Nywila/siri (Password/secret)

Give someone something small, basically a bribe (literally “give someone a fox’s thing”).

Umbo la miguu (Foot grooming)

Pemba/kisiwa (Pemba/island)

Adhabu/kifungo (Penalty/punishment)

Love; like

Pepo/roho mbaya (Evil spirit)

Utendaji/maonyesho (Performance/show)

Pesa/fedha (Money/cash)

Pete/vitu vya mapambo (Ring/decoration things)

Shahada ya juu zaidi (Highest degree)

Lit. “hit a look.” In slang it means to dress up sharply (show off your style).

Wander around aimlessly or hustle on the streets.

Joke for “flash” or call and hang up (literally “make a call on a Chinese (phone)” implying cheap action).

To chat or have a conversation (literally “hit story”).

Motorcycle

Spiced rice

Pilipili/kitu cha uchungu (Pepper/spicy thing)

Unyang'anyi wa sanaa (Art theft)

Orodha ya nyimbo (Song list)

Cool; I'm fine (response to mambo)

Sorry; take it easy

“Slowly slowly” meaning take it easy or step by step.

Slowly

Polisi/mlinzi wa usalama (Police/security guard)

Alcohol; beer

Popote pale/mahali palipo (Anywhere there/place that is)

Popular/maarufu (Popular/famous)

Hali nzuri (Good condition)

Kuchapisha/kutuma (To post/send)

Maonyesho ya kazi (Work presentation)

Rais/kiongozi mkuu (President/top leader)

Mfalme mdogo (Prince/small king)

Malkia mdogo (Princess/small queen)

Upendeleo/haki ya pekee (Privilege/special right)

Mtaalamu/fundi (Professional/expert)

Mtengenezaji wa muziki (Music producer)

Profesa/mwalimu mkuu (Professor/main teacher)

Profession/taaluma ya kazi (Profession/work specialization)

Professor Jay/msanii (Professor Jay/artist)

Wasifu/maelezo ya mtu (Profile/person description)

Maendeleo/kusonga mbele (Progress/moving forward)

Protini/vijenzi vya mwili (Protein/body builders)

Pua/kiungo cha kunusa (Nose/smelling organ)