Oh Mama! TETEMA – English Lyrics

• By: Rayvanny, Nora Fatehi, Shreya Ghoshal, Vishal Mishra

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a captivating linguistic and cultural journey with “Oh Mama! TETEMA,” a vibrant blend of Hindi, English, and Swahili. This song offers an exciting opportunity to learn Swahili phrases like 'tetema' (to shake/tremble) and 'Tipwatipwa' (a Tanzanian dance style), immersing you in its energetic celebration of dance and cross-cultural unity. Its infectious beats and multilingual lyrics make it a special and accessible entry point for language learners.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
nazar /nəˈzɑːr/ C1	noun - gaze, look, the act of seeing
jadu /ˈdʒɑː.duː/ C1	noun - magic, sorcery, supernatural power
bechaini /bəˈtʃeː.ni/ C1	noun - restlessness, anxiety, uneasiness
hangover /ˈhæŋ.oʊ.vɚ/ B2	noun - the after‑effects of drinking alcohol, especially a headache and nausea
tetema /tɛˈteɪ.mə/ C2	noun - a slang term used in the song meaning intoxication or a wild, carefree state verb - to become intoxicated or to act wildly
spin /spɪn/ A2	verb - to turn around quickly
body /ˈbɒd.i/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ A1	noun - a very young child; also a term of endearment
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something noun - deep affection or strong liking
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A2	noun - combustion that produces heat and light verb - to dismiss from a job; to shoot
sugar /ˈʃʊɡ.ər/ A1	noun - a sweet crystalline substance used as a food sweetener
honey /ˈhʌn.i/ A1	noun - a sweet viscous food made by bees
cinema /ˈsɪn.ə.mə/ B1	noun - a place where movies are shown; the film industry
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position or go from one place to another
best /bɛst/ A1	adjective - of the highest quality, excellence
ruuh /ruːh/ C1	noun - spirit, soul (colloquial Hindi/Urdu)
badhmashi /bʌdˈhmɑː.ʃi/ C1	noun - mischief, naughty behavior
zakhm /zəxˈm/ C1	noun - wound, injury
bajli /bʌdʒˈliː/ C1	noun - lightning, a flash of electric discharge in the sky

Key Grammar Structures

• तेरी नज़र लग ना जाए

  ➔ Negative potential construction with ना + जाए after a verb.

  ➔ The phrase "लग ना जाए" means ‘may not fall’ or ‘might not affect’.

• हाए तौबा, होने लगी मैं sober

  ➔ Progressive aspect with होना + लगना (होने लगी) indicating the beginning of a state.

  ➔ "होने लगी" translates as ‘started to become’, showing a change that is in progress.

• तेरा हुआ दिल, माँ, I go tetema

  ➔ Code‑switching with a present simple verb "go" used as a lexical verb meaning ‘to feel/experience’.

  ➔ The verb "go" here functions like “I feel” – "I go tetema" = ‘I feel tetema’.

• You got me feeling, you know, ah‑ah

  ➔ Causative construction got + object + present participle (verb‑ing).

  ➔ "got me feeling" means ‘made me feel’. The verb "got" is the causative.

• I see why they look up and down, ah‑ah

  ➔ Indirect question introduced by why + clause.

  ➔ "why they look up and down" is an embedded question functioning as the object of "see".

• Only you can get me this way, eh‑eh‑eh

  ➔ Modal verb can + infinitive indicating ability or permission.

  ➔ "can get" means ‘is able to cause’ – only you have the ability to put me in this state.

• अजी, अजी, अजी, show me that you're bad now

  ➔ Imperative verb show + object + content clause introduced by that.

  ➔ "show me that you're bad now" commands the listener to demonstrate "that you're bad now".

• You know, you know you're gonna love it when we ah‑ah

  ➔ Future informal gonna + infinitive and temporal clause when + clause.

  ➔ "you're gonna love it" = “you are going to love it”. The clause "when we ah‑ah" tells when the love will happen.

• बँध जाए रूह से रूह

  ➔ Passive‑potential construction बँध + जाए indicating ‘may be bound’.

  ➔ "बँध जाए" means ‘may become bound’, using the potential suffix - जाए with a passive verb.