Browse Mali Slang

Sigida dɔ Bamako, yɔrɔ min na ambiance bɛ su fɛ (A neighborhood in Bamako where there's nightlife)

Mali ntolatan ton, Mali équipe (Mali playing group, Mali team)

Used like “we’re all in this together” or to say we’ve got each other’s back (similar to “on est ensemble”).

Used like “see you later.”

A hugely common Bambara expression meaning 'let's go!' (literally 'we go'). It's not slang but an everyday youthful phra...

Bɔgɔ sama fɛn, poussière aspirer (Dust suck thing, vacuum)

Strong sweet tea brewed in rounds, central to youth socializing (not an insult, but a cultural slang term).

Teriya, ka to kelen kan (Brotherhood, staying together)

Motokari walima mobili (Car or vehicle)

Mali fɔlifɛn dɔ (Malian musical instrument)

Muso min ka kuma ka bon, min bɛ se ka cɛ ka hakili minɛ (Woman whose words are powerful, who can capture a man's mind)

Reference to being sophisticated (from capital) (Origin: Bambara/Malian)

Bamako su ambiance, fasobara tulonw (Bamako night fun, capital entertainment)

Bamanankan kalan, apprendre bambara (Bambara study, learn Bambara)

Bamananw ka kan, langue bambara (Bambara people's language, Bambara)

Children or young people (Origin: Bambara/Malian)

Mɔgɔ min bɛ bana sɔrɔ tuma bɛɛ (Someone who gets sick often)

Den sɔrɔlen kura, nouveau-né (Newly gotten child, newborn)

Ala ka dɛmɛ, bénédiction (God's help, blessing)

Kumaɲɔgɔnya kɛ, ka kuma ni mɔgɔ ye (To chat, to talk with someone)

Sira datugu yɔrɔ, route fermer place (Road close place, checkpoint)

Malo suguya, ɲɔ dumuni (Type of rice, corn food)

Ɔwɔ, tiɲɛ don (No problem, it's true)

Mali bazin, tissu malien (Mali bazin, Malian fabric)

Shorthand for the shiny, stiff bazin fabric that's popular in Mali for traditional clothes. By extension, 'mettre le baz...

Caman caman, beaucoup (Many many, a lot)

Nakɔfɛn caman bɔ, mauvaise herbe (Many weeds come out, weeds)

Joginnen, farigan ta (Injured, hurt taken)

A party or big get-together (youth say “boom” for a dance party).

Jɛgɛlaw, Somono, ba kɔrɔmɔgɔw (Fishermen, Somono, river people)

Faransimɔgɔ dumuni, pain (French people food, bread)

Fiɲɛ ni bɔgɔ, vent et poussière (Wind and dust, dust storm)

Ji min b'a ta ka bɔ, yɔrɔ min jilen don (Mud, wet place)

Mali rap, laada ni rap ɲagaminen (Mali rap, tradition and rap mixed)

Laɲini, bɛnkan walasa ka ɲɔgɔn ye (Appointment, meeting to see each other)

A French phrase meaning 'It's family,' used in Mali to say 'we're tight/like family'. It's a way to downplay formalities...

Sonni, nisɔndiya jira fɛn (Gift, happiness showing thing)

Kafe kɛ fɛn, café faire machine (Coffee make thing, coffee maker)

Ɲɛfɔli kɛla, présenteur (Presentation doer, candidate)

Bɔli taamasiyɛn, sortie signe (Exit sign, red card)

Wari suguya min bɛ kɛ joona joona (Quick money, fast cash)

Right away, very quickly (from the expression “chop-chop”).

To guess, understand or sniff out something (from French *choirer* in slang).

Bamananw ka dɔn, sɛnɛkɛ dɔn (Bambara dance, farming dance)

A lighter (from the Clipper brand often used).

Sira sariya, route loi (Road law, traffic code)

Fɛn kalaya fɛn, chose geler machine (Thing freeze thing, freezer)

Sira min bɛ cɛw bolo, cɛya sira (Man's path, the way of manhood)

Cɛw ka cogoya, masculinité (Men's way, masculinity)

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