Browse African Slang

Foreign investment

Local investment

Uwele/nafaka (Millet/grain)

Uwezo/nguvu (Ability/power)

Small ability

Generation capability

Uwigize umukene aba ari umukire (One who acts poor is rich - humility conceals wealth)

Uwihangana abiri ntakura (One who tolerates two doesn't grow - compromise stunts growth)

Uwongo/uongo (Lies/falsehood)

Uwubaha mwana ahubwa n'uwukura (One who respects a child stumbles on an adult - balance respect)

Uwugaramye inkoni ahisha intoki (One leaning on a stick hides fingers - dependence conceals ability)

Uwuhishe ku mutima urara nabi (One who hides in the heart sleeps badly - secrets disturb peace)

(Kinyarwanda) Literally 'the person I love.' Used to refer to one's beloved when speaking to others. Similar to saying '...

Uwuteye imbuto niwe uyisarura (One who plants seeds harvests them - you reap what you sow)

Uwuteze imbere ategereza (One who advances waits - progress requires patience)

Uwuze ngo ngiye i Gitega ntiyicara hasi (One who says I'm going to Gitega doesn't sit down - determination shows)

An African term starting with the prefix 'u', which commonly indicates a noun class in Bantu languages. The root 'xakaji...

(Zulu/Xhosa) Meaning 'sorry.' Often used in love contexts when apologizing to a partner after a quarrel. A heartfelt 'Ux...

You're too forward / impatient.

Is a Xhosa term for "You are annoying". It can also mean "He/She is annoying"... depending on the pronunciation.

Accusing someone of using charms.

You're making noise / complaining loud.

A Zulu term often used across languages meaning "you're being forward" or "cheeky." It calls someone out for oversteppin...

IsiZulu Slang that Literally means “Mkhwanazi is coming”; a warning phrase used to alert people—especially those breakin...

Uyu munsi (Today)

Literally 'you will laugh at it (later).' Used to console a friend going through something embarrassing now

Uzalishaji/kutengeneza (Production/manufacturing)

Planned parenthood

Insularité (Insularity)

Uzoefu/utaalamu (Experience/expertise)

Island beauty

Cri de joie (Cry of joy)

Joie collective (Collective joy)

dhaaf with directional/prepositional modifier (Somali) - compound verb form

An African term starting with the prefix 'ubu', which commonly indicates a noun class in Bantu languages. The root 'moza...

An African term starting with the prefix 'ubu', which commonly indicates a noun class in Bantu languages. The root 'nisa...

Filosofia africana de união (African philosophy of unity)

An African term starting with the prefix 'ubu', which commonly indicates a noun class in Bantu languages. The root 'yole...

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from Tswana that refers to a cultural concept, object, or action. It is commonly used in everyday speech within c...

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from African languages referring to cultural concepts or everyday objects.

A term from Yoruba that refers to a cultural concept, object, or action. It is commonly used in everyday speech within c...

Ato de ultrapassar (Overtaking)