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.

[English]

तेरी नज़र लग ना जाए

देखो ना मुझको यूँ, हाए

जादू तुम्हारी नज़र का

बेचैनी कितनी बढ़ाए

हाए तौबा, होने लगी मैं sober

थोड़ी-थोड़ी hangover

तेरा हुआ दिल, माँ, I go tetema

Oh mama, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Tipwatipwa, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Shuka chini, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Tipwatipwa, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Shuka chini, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

You got me feeling, you know, ah-ah

I see why they look up and down, ah-ah

I like it when you spin me around

Only you can get me this way, eh-eh-eh

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

Body, body, baby, I got enough for ya

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

You got me going, got me throwing, baby, yeah-yeah

Ah, ayi, mama shake di- (oh mama)

Ah, nakufa, hoi, wicked (oh mama)

Ah, ayi, mama, shake di- (oh mama)

Konki, fire, moto

Haya mama, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Gimme, gimme, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Show me like a cinema (oh mama, tetema)

Sugar, honey, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Haya, mama, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Gimme, gimme, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Show me like a cinema (oh mama, tetema)

Sugar, honey, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

(Oh mama, tetema)

(Oh mama, tetema)

(Oh mama, tetema)

ओ, ज़रा-ज़रा हुई है रूह प्यासी

तू थोड़ी-थोड़ी होने दे बदमाशी

तू गिरने दे बिजलियाँ, हाँ, बिजलियाँ

हर ज़ख़म को दिल राज़ी

तेरे संग करना है move

Baby, we're the best, me and you

बँध जाए रूह से रूह

मैं क्या ना कर दूँ

बेताबी, होने लगी बदमाशी

थोड़ी-थोड़ी hangover

जो तेरा हुआ दिल, माँ, I go tetema

Oh mama, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Gimme, gimme, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Show me like a cinema (oh mama, tetema)

Sugar, honey, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Haya, mama, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Gimme, gimme, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Show me like a cinema (oh mama, tetema)

Sugar, honey, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Tipwatipwa, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Shuka chini, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Tipwatipwa, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Aya twende, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

Shuka chini, tetema (oh mama, tetema)

...

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.