Malelve

Slang for 'to lie to someone' or 'to fool someone'. The full phrase li pe bez twa dan bass means 'he's lying to you,' li…

A funny phrase used when kids misbehave, roughly 'spank the package' (meaning give a good spanking). Parents jokingly sa…

An informal 'go on, man!' or exclamation of disbelief (like 'get out!'). Creole speakers use 'Ale do!' to express amused…

A Creole phrase meaning 'there's a problem here' or 'things are messed up'. Literally bézé came from 'beating,' but now …

Literally 'he sold his pig,' a colloquial expression meaning 'he broke into his savings (piggy bank)'. Used when someone…

Creole/French mix meaning 'to go flirt/chase girls' (from French gauler as slang for 'snag'). When guys say they're goin…

A humorous expression meaning 'drunk and a mess' (literally in Hindi 'spread flat'). Describes someone who got wasted an…

Literally 'jealous tongue,' referring to trash talk or bad-mouthing due to jealousy. If someone is spreading rumors beca…

(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)