Halwo

“Uncle/Auntie.” Used not only for actual relatives but to respectfully address older men (adeer) and older women (eedo).

A popular Somali greeting meaning “How are you?/What’s the news?” (literally “Inform me about yourself”).

Literally “market kids.” Describes street-smart rascals or troublemaking youth who hang around in the streets.

Khat, the mildly narcotic leaf chewed socially in the Horn of Africa. In Somali slang, jaad (or qaad) is often talked ab…

From English “boss,” used as slang to address someone in a friendly manner, like “mate.”

An attention-getting call meaning 'Hey, you!' (addressed to a man). It's a very common Somali interjection to hail someo…

Refer to Islamic attire (jilbaab = full covering, niqo = face veil). Among youth, sometimes feature in jokes or slang ph…

Literally “sweet.” Used as a term of endearment like “sweetheart” or “dear.”

(Lingala) The word for 'love' in Lingala, a language spoken in D.R. Congo. It's often hear…

Umgidi (traditional ceremony)

Shower yemwenga (bridal shower)

Pati yevakomana (bachelor party)

Nhaurirano dzeroora (lobola negotiations)