Words and Expressions

In the 10 months we have lived in Zambia, I have not gotten used to some of the words and expressions. I make mistakes all the time! I feel so dumb when I ask for a napkin at a restaurant and they give me this look ?? because napkin means diaper here. Or when I want french fries, but I have to order "chips". Some of the terms are easier to remember than others, and some are just down-right hilarious. For instance, pacifier is called a dummy, cotton candy is called candy floss (yeah, tell your dentist about that one), or calling a dump truck a tipper. Here is a list of words and expressions frequently encountered in daily conversation. The majority are English terms translated into Americanese.

American Expression - Local Expression
Eggplant = Aubergine or brinjal
Swimsuit = Bathing costume
Odds and ends = Bits and pieces
Cookie = Biscuit
Blind spot (traffic sign) = Black spot
Where government business takes place = Boma
Hood of car = Bonnet
Well = Borehole
Outdoor barbeque = Braai
Meat Market = Butchery
Boss = Bwana
Cotton Candy = Candy floss
French fries = Chips
Movies = Cinema
Drug store = Chemist
Dead end street = Close
Kitchen stove = Cooker
Cornstarch = Cornflour
Thread = Cotton
Absorbent cotton = Cotton wool
Zucchini squash = Courgettes
Party favor, paper cylinder = Crackers
Day nursery = Creche
A semi-circular road = Crescent
Potato chips = Crisps
Chinaware = Crockery
Thumbtacks = Drawing pins
Pacifier = Dummy
Trash can = Dust bin
Garbage men = Dustmen
Mid-morning snack = Elevenses
All gone = Finished
Floor above ground floor = First floor
Bangs on a hairdo = Fringe
Mark of punctuation, a period = Full stop
Overpass = Fly-over
Window screening = Gauze
Hot water heater = Geyser
Peanuts = Groundnuts or monkeynuts
Rubber boots = Gum boots
School administrator or principal = Headmaster
Horn in car = Hooter
Garden hose = Hosepipe
Ice cubes = Ice blocks, rocks
Notices or notifications = Intimations
Jello = Jelly
Sweater = Jersey or jumper
Luggage, personal belongings = Katundu
Servant’s quarters = Kaya
Underpants = Knickers
Sour Milk = Lacto
Run in stocking = Ladder
Gravel for driveway = Laterite
Roadside rest stop = Lay-by
Elevator = Lift
Toilet = Loo
Truck = Lorry
Sitting room, living room = Lounge
Raincoat = Mac (Macintosh)
Very much, many = Maningi
Supervising nurse = Matron
White corn = Mealies
Corn meal = Mealie meal
Hamburger (ground round) = Mince meat (steak mince)
Bassinet = Moses basket
Medicine = Muti
Tangerine = Nachies
Diapers = Nappies or napkin
Staple food made of corn meal = Nshima
Staff nurse = Nurse
Auto body repairman = Panel beaters
Kerosene = Paraffin
Clothespins = Pegs
Gasoline = Petrol
Take or steal = Pinch
A bag = Pocket (of vegetable or fruit)
Show up, attend = Pitch up
Toilet = Public convenience
Flat tire = Puncture
Put to sleep = Put down (an animal)
Line up = Queue up
Study, review = Revise
Traffic light = Robot
Traffic circle = Roundabout
Eraser = Rubber
Garbage or trash = Rubbish
Baking powder biscuit = Scone
Table napkin = Serviette
Registered nurse = Sister
Exit or entry road = Slip road
Fashionably dressed = Smart
Laundry detergent = Soap powder
Wrench = Spanner
Use the toilet = “Spend a penny”
Doctor’s office = Surgery
Candy = Sweeties
Desserts = Sweets
Swimming pool = Swimming bath
Bathing suit = Swimming costume
Tennis shoes, sneakers = Tackies
Faucet = Tap
Asphalted road or surface = Tarmac
Television = Telly
Can (of food) = Tin (of food)
Dump truck = Tipper
Flashlight = Torch
Sanitary napkins = Towels
Molasses = Treacle
Refreshment stand = Tuck shop
Pick-up truck, small truck = Vannette
Sleeveless undershirt = Vest
Do the dishes = Wash up
Rubber boots = Wellingtons
Windshield = Windscreen
Radio = Wireless

There are over 72 languages in Zambia, but many people speak English in Lusaka. The most common language spoken in Lusaka is Nyanja (Chinyanja). We have learned a few helpful words and sentences in Nyanja, but it's very tempting to just use English. But even then, I have to think before I speak. Which is actually a good thing to do, right? The Bible says in Proverbs 21:23 to "Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble."

If you find one of the words or expressions funny, feel free to make a comment. Comment, you ask? Yes, you are welcome to make comments on our blog! Even if you just want to say "hi".