African Words in English Flashcards

African Words in English

• Banana: Possibly derived from the West African Wolof language.
• Bogus: Originates from Hausa word "boko-boko," meaning fake or fraudulent.
• Bongo: Comes from West African term "boungu."
• Bozo: A West African term meaning stupid.
• Boogie: Likely rooted in Sierra Leone or Wolof, meaning to dance.
• Buckra: From Efik and Ibibio languages, meaning "white man" or "person."
• Chigger: Possibly derived from the Wolof and Yoruba term "jiga," meaning insect.
• Chimpanzee: Named from the Tshiluba term "kivili-chimpenze," loosely meaning "mockman."
• Cola: Originates from West African terms (Temne "kola," Mandinka "kolo").
• Dig: In the context of understanding, derived from Wolof "dega."
• Djembe: Comes from various West African languages referring to a type of drum.
• Hip: Derived from Wolof "hipi," meaning one with eyes open.
• Jazz: From Mandinka "jasi" and Temne "yas," associated with music and dance.
• Jive: Possibly derived from the Wolof word "jev."
• Juke: Likely from a combination of Wolof and Bambara "dzug," via Gullah.
• Kwashiorkor: From the Ga language in Coastal Ghana, meaning "swollen stomach," a form of malnutrition.
• Mambo: Possibly linked to West African languages through Haitian Creole.
• Merengue: Dance term, likely from Fulani word "mererek i," meaning to shake or quiver.
• Mumbo Jumbo: Derived from the Mandingo name "Maamajombo," referring to a masked dancer.
• Mojo: Originates from Fula "moco'o," meaning medicine man, through Creole influences.
• Obeah: Comes from West African languages (Efik "ubio," Twi "ebayifo").
• Okay: Origins disputed but likely influenced by Wolof "waw-kay."
• Okra: Derived from Igbo word "ókùrù."
• Samba: An African term, transmitted through Brazilian Portuguese.
• Sambo: From Fula term "sambo," meaning uncle.
• Tango: Probably from Ibibio word "tamgu."
• Tote: Derived from West African languages through Gullah.
• Voodoo: From West African terminology (Ewe and Fon "vodu," meaning spirit).
• Yam: From West African languages (Fula "nyami," Twi "anyinam").
• Banjo: Likely from Bantu word "mbanza."
• Basenji: A breed of dog native to the Congo.
• Bwana: From Swahili, meaning an important person or safari leader.
• Dengue: Possibly derived from Swahili "dinga."
• Funk: From Kikongo term "lu-***i," meaning bad body odor.
• Gnu: Derived from Bushman "!nu" through Khoikhoi "i-ngu" and Dutch "gnoe."
• Goober: Possibly from Bantu languages (Kikongo and Kimbundu "nguba").
• Gumbo: From Kimbundu word "ngombo," meaning okra.
• Impala: From Zulu term "im-pala."
• Indaba: From Xhosa or Zulu, meaning stories or news, often used to refer to meetings in South African English.
• Jumbo: Derived from Swahili (jambo or jumbe) or from Kongo "nzamba," meaning elephant.
• Kwanzaa: From the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning "first fruits."
• Lapa: From Sotho languages, referring to an enclosure or barbecue area.
• Macaque: From Bantu "makaku," passed through Portuguese and French.
• Mamba: From Zulu or Swahili term for snake.
• Marimba: From Bantu (Kimbundu and Swahili) words "marimba" and "malimba."
• Okapi: From a language spoken in the Congo.
• Safari: From Swahili meaning travel, ultimately derived from Arabic.
• Sangoma: From Zulu, referring to a traditional healer, common in South African English.
• Tilapia: Possibly Latinized from "thiape," with connections to Tswana language.