Browse African Slang

يغسل (Washes)

Il y a mensonge là-dedans (There's a lie in there)

C'est possible (It's possible)

Literally 'there is no road,' this phrase means 'the road is impassable' and is slang for a traffic jam or blocked route...

Y'a pas son deux (There's no second - it's the best)

Y'a wili (Oh my - Arabic)

C'est sûr (It's certain)

Il suffit de (Just have to)

In Liberian English, 'y'all' is singular (from 'you all' used politely to one person). It's a respectful second person p...

واي تو كي - Y2K

Y3 b3 di agye (We will rejoice) - We'll celebrate

We dey/We be guys/We tight (We're cool/We're friends)

يطيب (Cooks)

يحاول (Tries)

YMCA (Disco dance)

YOLO (You only live once)

يولو مايندسيت - عقلية نعيش مرة واحدة (YOLO mindset)

Means 'you' (singular) in Koloqua. Can be a subject or object.

Froid (Cold)

Means 'you' (singular) in Koloqua. Can be a subject or object.

Ya (Yes)

The vocative 'O/Hey' in Arabic, heavily used in Libyan speech. Placed before a name or even alone like 'hey you'. They o...

Dude/bro (lit. oh uncle).

يا الله Ô Dieu (Oh God)

My brother (term of endearment)

An affectionate way to address a true friend, similar to “homie.” (Origin: Sudanese Arabic, lit. "my original")

Hey girl!

My daughter (affectionate)

Ya bon (It's good - pidgin)

Il y a une femme (There's a woman)

Literally you rat, but slang for a sucker or someone who's easily fooled

Il n'y a rien (There's nothing)

Il y a match (There's a match)

Ya foule (There's a crowd)

Ya foyi (It's nothing - Dioula)

Are you leaving? (Departure inquiry)

My dear (Arabic) - term of endearment

يا هلا (Welcome)

What a pity/shame; expressing regret

“Oh brother,” an exclamation used when complaining or empathizing. Usage: Ya kho, these traffic jams in Algiers will be ...

Oh my brother

Il n'y a pas (There isn't)

Oh gentle one (God)

يا ليلي (Oh my goodness)

An informal way to address someone (influenced by English “man”). Similar to “dude.”

Means 'there is no problem' or 'no worries.' Youth often say it after plans: 'on va faire comme ça, ya matta'

Hey people!

Filler like “I mean” or “like.” Comes from “ya’ni.”. Usage: The party was, ya ni, okay – not the best but fine.

Ya pas (There isn't - pidgin)

Il n'y a pas de mensonge (There's no lie)