"babala" means: Any of several cultivated species of grass in the genus .. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
babala
(South Africa) Any of several cultivated species of grass in the genus .
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(South Africa) Any of several cultivated species of grass in the genus .
For parents
"babala" means: Any of several cultivated species of grass in the genus .. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"babala" means: Any of several cultivated species of grass in the genus .. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Semantically related
- babalaas69%
(South Africa, slang) A very bad hangover.
- babalaas68%
South African slang for a severe hangover — the kind that leaves you incapacitated the morning after heavy drinking. Widely used across South African English and deeply embedded in the country's drinking culture. The word comes from Afrikaans, which borrowed it from Zulu or Xhosa, giving it a distinctly South African flavor. It is used openly and without much stigma in casual conversation and is one of those terms that signals authentic South African identity to those who know it.
- babalaas67%
South African slang for a severe hangover, borrowed from Zulu and Xhosa. Widely used across racial and language groups in South Africa, making it one of the more genuinely cross-cultural slang terms in the country. Carries a particular gravity — babalaas implies not just a headache but the full morning-after collapse. Used matter-of-factly in conversation rather than humorously. The word itself sounds appropriately heavy and punishing for what it describes — a two-syllable thud that matches the feeling.
- mabela66%
(South Africa) A type of sorghum.
- mabela62%
A South African term for a variety of sorghum used to make traditional porridge, bread, and fermented drinks. Mabela is a staple grain in southern Africa and the word comes from Nguni languages (Zulu and Xhosa). Widely used in South African English in cooking and food contexts.