Browse African Slang

Serikali ya majimbo (Devolution)

Food supply

Ugly (Ugly)

Ugonjwa/hali mbaya ya mwili (Sickness/bad body condition)

At most

Finally/lastly

Finally/lastly

Finally/at last

At least

Chefe religioso Papel (Papel religious chief)

Uguhangana bibiri byica rimwe (Chasing two kills one - focus is important)

Ugupfa kw'umututsi akamenya uko bakura umurundi (Death teaches how to bury - experience teaches)

Ugushika aho bigenda ntibyuza amaboko (Reaching where things go doesn't wash hands - achieving goals requires effort)

Food certainty

Non en Baoulé (No in Baoulé)

Forest destruction

Uhifadhi/kutunza (Preservation/keeping)

Major conservation

Fish conservation

Uhuru/kuwa huru (Freedom/being free)

What I mean is

Ujenzi/kujenga (Construction/building)

New construction

Dhow building

School construction

Nation building

Generational ignorance

Ujira/malipo ya siku (Wage/daily payment)

Ujumbe/habari (Message/news)

Instant message

Text message

Instant messaging

Ujuzi/uwezo (Skills/ability)

Great skill

Ancient skills

Work skills

Ustadi wa kufanya kazi kwa mikono (Expertise in doing manual work)

Elders' expertise

A Zulu phrase meaning "it goes down" – used to describe illicit deals or shady things done quietly (like money changing ...

Land inspection

Parentesco em Shona (Kinship in Shona)

Severe drought

Major drought

Slang for being broke (derived from ukata, lack of money). Conveys having empty pockets.

Ukarabati/kurekebisha (Repair/fixing)

Environmental repair

Ukaratasi/kazi ya karatasi (Paper work)

Sister

Homem em Papel (Man in Papel)

Ukingoni/mpakani (At the border)