Browse African Slang

Zimbabwe’s staple food: a stiff maize-meal porridge. Not really “slang” (it’s the proper name), but sometimes used figur...

Means to get out of trouble or to manage.

Ruah makan ba'id (Travel to far place)

Long journey

Safe journey

Good journey (Somali) - travel wish

Safari (Hunt/journey)

Safari (Safari)

Safari (Safari)

Mashindano ya magari Kenya (Kenya car rally)

Kiongozi wa safari (Safari guide)

Good journey

Safari unique (Unique safari)

Safari ya Masai Mara (Masai Mara safari)

Foot journey

Ancient voyages

Foreign journeys

Mountain trips

Slang used like “cool” or “no problem,” originally British but common with Zim youth, especially in Harare.

Kushayela kahle (Driving well)

Secure place (Protection spot)

መልካም ጉዞ/መልካም ጉዞ (Melkam guzo) - safe journey

Make it safe

Espace sûr (Safe space)

Espaces sûrs pour femmes (Safe spaces for women)

Safe travels (Protected journey)

Indawo lephephile (Safe place)

Security/Protection (Safety)

የደህንነት መሳሪያዎች/የደህንነት መሳሪያዎች (Yedehinet mesariyawoch) - safety equipment

Reunión de seguridad obligatoria (Mandatory safety meeting)

Safety net (Backup support)

Tiseluleko tekuphepha (Safety advice)

A South African (often used playfully, especially by expats – derived from “S.A.F.A.”).

سافرون لاكجري - رفاهية الزعفران (saffron luxury)

Enough or that's it

Clean; good; okay

صافي باراكا - كفى (enough already)

Means “enough” or “done.” Used to conclude or stop something. Usage: Safii, ma n-qeder-sh (Enough, I can’t continue).

Ship (Arabic)

Ko kɛ fɛn, savon (Washing thing, soap)

صافيوت - من آسفي (from Safi)

Prune africaine (African plum)

Means “clear” or “done.” Used like “all good” or “we’re done here.”

Woman (Afar)

Nine (Somali)

Intelligence pratique (Practical intelligence)

“I don’t want.” Often used jokingly even in English sentences.

“I don’t want any ‘he said/she said’” (no excuses or gossip).

Originally means peanut or a peanut snack. As slang, a small bribe or 'cola money.' If someone says donne-moi mon sagalo...

Rat (Rat)