Browse African Slang

Harvest time

Wakati wowote/muda wowote (Anytime/any moment)

Wakato (When - Mooré)

Wake (To wake up)

Wake up (Get up)

መቀስቀሻ ጥሪ/መቀስቀሻ ጥሪ (Mekeskesha tiri) - wake up call

Wake wake (Stay awake)

Wakenya ni hodari (Kenyans are great)

واخا، موافق (Okay, alright)

Born with privilege; had it easy" (Chichewa slang)

Libyan for 'Move aside!' or 'back off.' Common in traffic or telling someone to step back.

Long time

Mwanasheria wa kesi (Case lawyer)

Wakoze neza Imana iguhembera (You do good, God rewards you - good deeds are rewarded)

Cidade do interior (Interior city)

Thief (insult for a sneaky person) (Origin: Chichewa)

Someone with a sneaky (untrustworthy look")

Wakulima wadogo (Small scale farmers)

You’re showing off/flexing" (Chichewa slang)

Wazazi (Parents)

Community elders

Wakwiya / Wokwiya (Angry / upset)

Femme/meuf (Woman/chick)

Colloquial for “kid” or “dude.” Can be friendly or insulting depending on tone.

ولا حاجة - Nothing

Means “or what?” often added at end of question for emphasis. Usage: You’re coming with us, wala eyh? (Implying they rea...

“Nothing,” used to dismiss something as unimportant.

Emphatic “no way” or “absolutely not.”. Usage: Me, go out in this heat? Wala la, I’m staying in the AC.

ولا ولا (Or or / neither)

والله (I swear to God)

I swear by God (Arabic-Somali mix) - strong oath

“Sibling”, but used as a friendly address like “brother/sister.” Everyday term of goodwill.

Come brother/sister

Come brothers/sisters

Boy child

Bonne santé (Good health)

I swear by Allah (I swear)

Expression de surprise (Expression of surprise)

Ka kɛ sababu ye, pour que (In order to, so that)

An exclamation meaning “No way!” or “Don’t mention it,” depending on context.

Je jure devant Dieu (I swear before God)

Walaï (I swear - Arabic)

Walaï (I swear - Arabic)

I swear/really

Walge (To boil)

Rice

Governor

Wali na mchuzi (Rice with sauce)

Wali uliopikwa na nazi (Rice cooked with coconut)

ዋልያ/ዋልያ (Walia)