Liberian Kolokwa Dictionary
Browse Liberian Kolokwa (also spelled Koloqua) words and their English meanings.
Abuse
Common Verbs & ActionsTo insult, ridicule
"Buh you na abuse the man bad way oh!"
Air cool/AC
CommonAir conditioning
"Turn the air cool on, the place hot."
All two
Commonboth
"Take all two to the papay deh"
An noda mo
Commonanother
"Give me an noda mo chance."
Antay (N-tay)
People & Social StatusAunt
"La ma antay (deh)"
Ants bear
CommonThe pangolin
"I saw one ants bear in the bush."
Area
CommonOne's neighborhood, turf, or specialty
"You in my area now, so play low."
Argo Oil
CommonVegetable oil
"Wheh play ley/lay argo oy (eh)?"
Ba
People & Social StatusA friend, buddy, peer (friend of same age group)
"Ba, come leh go. Ba, weh you aeh?"
baboon
Commonchimpanzee
"The baboon can act like human being."
Baf fence
CommonAn outdoor shower area
"I going to the baf fence to bathe."
bamboo
CommonThe raffia palmtree
"He cutting the bamboo to build the roof."
Bamboo wine
CommonPalm wine
"Papay drinking his bamboo wine."
Bamboo worm
CommonBeetle grubs
"They frying bamboo worm to eat."
banjo
Common Verbs & ActionsTo sell something at a discount; cheap
"All de tinnen you selling yeh, la banjo? I am banjo-ing all my goods na"
Barbing saloon
CommonBarber shop
"We coming go to lay barbing saloon jessna"
Beard-beard
People & Social StatusA longer beard on a man
"See beard-beard oh!"
Behind you/me
Common Verbs & ActionsTo bother someone, to nag
"Buh what you behind me for again? Since last week, the man behind me for his money business"
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About the Liberian Kolokwa Dictionary
The Liberian Kolokwa Dictionary (also spelled Koloqua) is a comprehensive reference for Liberian English vocabulary. Kolokwa is the distinctive English-based creole spoken throughout Liberia, blending influences from Americo-Liberian settlers, indigenous Liberian languages, and modern urban slang.
Each entry in our dictionary includes the Kolokwa word or phrase, its English meaning, and example sentences showing real-world usage in conversation. This structure helps you understand not just what words mean, but how they are used in everyday Liberian speech. Many entries include category tags to help you browse related vocabulary, from greetings and food to street slang and expressions.
Use the alphabet navigation above to browse entries by letter, filter by category to find themed vocabulary, or search for specific words and meanings. Each word links to a detailed entry page with complete definitions and usage examples. If you need sentence-level translation instead of individual word lookups, try our Liberian Kolokwa to English Translator.
This dictionary is especially useful if you are learning Kolokwa from scratch, reconnecting with your Liberian heritage, or creating content for Liberian audiences. You can look up everyday expressions, local slang, cultural terms, and conversational phrases that rarely appear in standard English dictionaries. The example sentences show you how words fit naturally into Kolokwa conversation.
Because Kolokwa is a living spoken language, new words and expressions emerge constantly, especially in Monrovia and other urban centers. That is why our dictionary is designed to be expandable and community-driven. You can use the suggestion form below to submit new Kolokwa words or corrections for review. Your contributions help build a more complete reference for everyone learning or documenting the language.
Kolokwa shares some similarities with other West African English-based creoles like Nigerian Pidgin, but has unique vocabulary shaped by Liberia's history as a settlement founded by formerly enslaved African Americans. The language reflects this blend of American English, indigenous African languages, and West African coastal creole influences.
Whether you are a beginner, a heritage speaker, a linguist, or a content creator, this Liberian Kolokwa dictionary gives you structured access to authentic Liberian vocabulary. Combine it with our Kolokwa to English Translator to experience how these words work in complete sentences and everyday conversation.