African Slang Words Starting With "U"

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

Om te soek vir kos/geld (To hustle for food/money)

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

To lie or deceive someone

Land inspection

Parentesco em Shona (Kinship in Shona)

Kiangazi (Drought)

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)

Ukhrawiya (Hereafter)

Sister

Ukhti (My sister)

Ikhtiasiy (Specialist)

Homem em Papel (Man in Papel)

Ukingoni/mpakani (At the border)

Over there

Uko dufashanya (How we help each other)

Uko dukorana (How we work together)

Uko dutinyuka (How we progress)

Una bahati (You're lucky)

“Are you sure?” often said with playful doubt.

Sarcastic for 'you're just fine' meaning you think you're so smart but you're not. Often used after someone says somethi...

Uko tubaho (How we live)

Uko twubahana (How we respect each other)

Uko zivuga izo (Supply and demand)

Ukoo/familia kubwa (Clan/big family)

Mavazi ya mtindo fulani (Certain style clothing)

Lack of opportunities

Lack of work

Ukuaji/kuongezeka (Growth/increasing)