Browse African Slang

Hour/time

ساعة كاملة (Full hour)

ساعة ساعة (Hour by hour)

ساعة سعيدة (Happy hour)

سعادة - Happiness

ساعات - Sometimes

Difficult/hard

Very hard.

صعيدي - From Upper Egypt

صح - Correct

Cheers; to your health

سحب - Withdrawal

My friend

صقر (Falcon / sharp)

Hour; time; watch

Wagt/zaman (Time/hour)

Hivi sasa (Right now)

Hivi sasa (Right now)

Morning hour

Later/in a while (Somali)

In a little while

Refers to Upper Egyptians (Sa’idis), but used in jokes as stereotype for someone naive or old-fashioned. Usage: Don’t be...

Hour; time; watch

An hour later

Expensive watch

Good morning/Have a good day (Somali greeting)

Saaga (Rain - Mooré)

I don't want

Truly or extremely.

Saam-dîîma (Spoiled food)

Saamende (Extended family)

Saan (Brother/Sister)

Saan-n-tũudo (Rain following - farming season)

Saana (Co-wife)

Saana yaa kibare (A stranger brings news)

Slang for “no” or an emphatic negation (possibly from mixing vernacular).

Friend (Somali/Arabic)

Is your friend around?

Seventh day celebration

Saba (Three - Dioula)

Seventy shillings

صباح الخير - صباح الخير (Good morning)

Flatbread (Somali) - similar to chapati

Reason/because (Arabic/Somali)

Because

Kun, mun na (Reason, why)

Phrase meaning “morning of jasmine,” used as a cheerful morning greeting (like “Good morning, sunshine”).

Good morning (Arabic)

Good morning (Arabic-French greeting)

Muɲu, ka mun (Patience, to endure)