Wakandan Dictionary

This dictionary and lexique list some terms used in Wakandan languages, or terms and expressions in English or other languages but used by the Wakandans, or already translated in English or other languages.

Some terms may be used by Wakandans without being translated. They will be listed anyway with a context helping to understand their meaning, until they will be developed.

It is also possible that some of the terms are actually Hausa or Yoruba, the two other major languages of Wakanda, or from another language or dialect, such as Zulu and Rwandan.

The Wakandans of Earth-199999 speak Xhosa and his writing system is inspired by Nsibidi, originally from Nigeria. According to designer Zach Fannin, it was also inspired by Tifinagh (Sahara desert), Ancient South Arabian and Bamum script (Cameroon).

A

• Aja-Adanna: "Keeper of Lore"
• Ayo: "Joy" (in Yoruba) first name of a member of the Dora Milaje: Ayo

B

• Baba: "Father" (in Xhosa).
• Birnin: "City." (in Hausa).

D

• Damisa-Sarki: "The Panther."
• Dora Milaje: Possibly "Adored Ones." Pronounced "dora-meh-LAH-shay" or "DOR-ah muh-LAH-jay."

E

• Egbe okunkun: "secret society." (in Yoruba)

G

• Great Circle: What is called "The Burning Circle" by the Uhari and "The First and Last Hunt" by the Dalfinn.
• Griot: "historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician". (in French)

H

• Hadari Yao: "Walker of Clouds", the Goddess who preserves the balance of all natural things (in old Alkamite). Name of Storm (Ororo Munroe).
• Haramu-Fal: "The Orphan-King."
• Hatut Zeraze: "Dogs of War."

J

• Jabari: "brave (one)." (in Swahili) Name of a tribe in Wakanda.
• Jambazi: "bandit." (in Swahili)

K

• Kimoyo: "of the spirit." (in Bantu)

M

• Majambazi: "bandits." in (Swahili)

N

• N'cos: "thank you."
• Nyanza: "lake." cognate to "inyanja" (Rwandan)
• Negus:: "king, monarch" (in Ethiopian Semitic languages). Name of one of the kings of Wakanda.

O

• Okoye: "born on orie market day" (in Igbo) first name of a member of the Dora Milaje: Okoye
• Okulani: presumably a transgender person
• Olumo:"molded by god" (in Yoruba), first name of the patron Bashenga
• Orisha: "God", "Deity" (in Yoruba)

R

• Rutuku: Derisive word for white people (in Rwandan).

S

• Sihavea: "We got this."

T

• T'Challa: "He who put the knife where it belonged" (Old Wakandan).
• Taifa Nagao: "Shield of the Nation."

U

• Ukatana: "Kitten" (in Zulu).