Browse African Slang

Bahari Kuu (Indian Ocean)

Masharti ya dhamana (Bail terms)

Literally 'disaster,' slang-wise means something extreme (good or bad). 'Mdem ni balaa' (the girl is unbelievably hot) o...

Mpira (Ball / football)

Mpira ni maisha (Ball is life)

Swahili for marijuana, used in slang to refer to anything crazy as well (like calling a wild idea 'ni bangi').

Twenty shillings

Mchezo wa kibao (Board game)

Kaunta ya bar (Bar counter)

Baraka za Kenya (Blessings of Kenya)

Kubarganya (To bargain)

Baridi ya mwezi wa saba (July cold)

Baridi kali (Intense cold)

Slang for one's home area or hangout spot (like base of operations).

Neighborhood hangout or home area.

Kaa salama (Be safe)

Likizo ya pwani (Beach vacation)

Kuzunguka zunguka (Beating around)

Chumba kimoja (Studio apartment)

Mzuri kwa Kiluo (Good in Luo)

Friend/bestie (from English “bestie”).

Bora kabisa (Best)

Kamari (Betting)

Vitumbua vya dengu (Lentil fritters)

Vitafunwa vya dengu (Lentil snacks)

Mambo ya pesa / hustle (Money matters / hustle)

Nyanya na babu (Grandmother and grandfather)

Sherehe ya kuzaliwa (Birthday party)

Picha ya cartoon (Cartoon avatar)

Slang for 'beatings', plural of beat. 'Kupiga bitz' to dish out hits.

Mpira wa kitamaduni (Traditional ball)

Tamasha la muziki (Music festival)

Similar to 'sponsor,' a South African term also understood in Kenya, meaning an older person blessing a younger one with...

Vito vya dhahabu (Gold jewelry)

Sad or depressed

To make a mistake (same as English but used often in Kenyan slang).

Ubao wa picha (Picture board)

Mkutano wa bodi (Board meeting)

Maisha ya pikipiki (Motorcycle life)

Mayai ya kuchemsha (Boiled eggs)

Bolt taxi

Pointi za Safaricom (Safaricom points)

Mkuu anayesumbua (Pressuring boss)

Leave

Mvulana (Boy child)

App ya mkopo (Loan app)

Mchezo wa kuruka kamba (Skipping rope game)

Kutuma kwa wengi (Send to many)

Siku za ukosefu (Days of lack)

Fifty shilling note