Browse African Slang

“Move aside” or “step off,” used to dismiss someone in an argument.

Package (To dress up)

Forfait voyage (Tourist package)

Slang for keeping up appearances – acting richer or more successful than one truly is. Many in the hustle game talk abou...

Beit malik (Royal house - Shilluk)

Blood pact

Ondjila / road (Road / path)

Perte (Loss)

Paddle boarding

Paddle pop (Ice lolly)

Amigo cercano, hermano (Close friend, brother)

Party (stylized).

Friend. In Krio, padi means friend or buddy

Online priest

Responsável espiritual/social (Spiritual/social guardian)

Padrinho (Godfather)

Mixed up situation; from Spanish influence

Pag n pa tara (A woman has no limits - women can achieve anything)

Pag-biiga tara buudu (A woman's child has family)

Pag-bila (Woman child - young lady)

Pag-la-yiri (Girl - Mooré)

Pag-sõnga (Good woman - virtuous wife)

Pag-wende (Woman)

Pagar amanhã (Pay tomorrow)

Pagar à vista (Pay cash)

Normally means 'chaos,' but among Guinean students pagaille means fun, joking around. 'Pagailler' (to do pagaille) is to...

Posar de (Pose as)

Pagar depois, fiado (Pay later, on credit)

To “flash” or give a missed call intentionally (so the other person calls back).

قلب الصفحة (Turning page)

Tissu traditionnel (Traditional fabric)

Pagne (Wrapper cloth)

Tissu traditionnel bien porté (Well-tied wrapper)

Pagne haute couture (Couture wrapper)

Estilo con tela africana (African fabric style)

Pagne moderne (Modern pagne)

Pagne tissé (Woven cloth)

Tissu wax (Wax fabric)

Ensemble pagne traditionnel (Complete traditional outfit)

Means “on the ground” and refers to the *current situation* or *in real life.* Often used to contrast talk versus realit...

WhatsApp father

Absent father

Absent father figure

Versement d'argent (Payment)

Paiement numérique (Digital payment)

Fandoavana amin'ny finday / Mobile payment

Paiement mobile (Mobile payment)

Paillote (Straw shelter)

Bar local (Local bar)

Pain avec beurre