Browse Rwanda Slang

Literally 'he/she has something small,' meaning the person has some money or is 'balling'. It implies having cash to spe...

Literally 'he/she has salt,' meaning the person is flossing or showing off. Salt in this context implies flavor/style

Literally 'she's cooked,' meaning she's hot (attractive)

Means 'she's on neatness,' i.e. she looks damn good/put-together. Used when a girl is dressed to kill

Informal greeting meaning 'What's up, man?' (literally 'How is it, dude?'). Bite on its own means 'Hi/What's new?' and s...

From Swahili 'kupanga' (to plan). Locally means to hook up a meeting or plan something shady

Literally 'to morning together.' A humorous way of saying to spend the night (as a couple) and still be together in the ...

The act of dumping or rejecting someone. Similar to above, but used as a verb

Rwandanized 'how come?' often pronounced hauly. Used when something is puzzling

Literally 'a piece of ice.' Slang for a very hot woman (like she's so hot she's cool? or as rare as ice). Used among guy...

Means something taboo or forbidden by culture. Youth might use it sarcastically to say something is a big no-no

Literally 'do-it-all.' Refers to a multi-tasking hustle or a person doing all sorts of odd jobs

From English 'to disappear.' Means ghosting or leaving without notice

'to drink tobacco,' meaning to smoke (cigarettes or otherwise). Youth use this literal phrase as slangy humor

'to fish.' Slang for to pick up girls/guys (go fishing for a date) in places like malls or church

'to eat childhood.' Means to live it up or be spoiled while young. If someone is always partying or pampered

A mix of Kinyarwanda and English 'I'm feeling it.' Means 'I'm enjoying it/I vibe with it.' Common in youth talk about mu...

(Kinyarwanda) 'I love you.' This is the standard phrase in Rwanda to express love. One can say ndagukunda cyane to mean ...

Literally 'he is bogari (handsome).' Bogari (from French 'beau gars' meaning handsome guy) means he's hot

Nickname for Nyamirambo, a famous lively district in Kigali. Used by youth much like saying 'Nyami'

Literally 'No, you!' but used as a fun expression like 'omg no way!' or gentle protest

A casual form of address to a friend, equivalent to 'dude' or 'pal.' It adds familiarity or emphasis. Can be used with a...

Literally 'cooked child.' Slang for a pregnant teenage girl or a girl matured too quickly. Often used in cautionary or g...

A standard 'hello' but among youth it can be shortened or said playfully with slang intonation. Often answered with ndah...

Literally 'Are you serious?' in a mix of Kinyarwanda (uri) and English. Used incredulously, often pronounced with a Kiny...

(Kinyarwanda) Literally 'the person I love.' Used to refer to one's beloved when speaking to others. Similar to saying '...

Literally 'you will laugh at it (later).' Used to console a friend going through something embarrassing now

Literally 'to swell.' Slang meaning to get a big ego or to get angry (as one's head 'swells')

Literally 'she threw a bucket.' Means she rejected him (turned him down). A common phrase when someone's advances fail

Drawn-out 'yo' sound used to express sympathy or mild shock (like 'oh no!'). Common when hearing bad news or gossip

Short for 'friendzone.' Rwandan youth use English zone to lament unrequited love