Browse African Slang

Nahodha/kiongozi (Captain/leader)

Maelezo ya picha (Photo description)

Career/maendeleo ya kazi (Career/work development)

Karnavali/sherehe ya kucheza (Carnival/dance celebration)

Exclamation like “dang!” or showing surprise at a hot mess.

Tea; bribe

Chai wenye tangawizi (Ginger tea)

Food

Chakula cha kasi (Fast food)

Chakula chenye afya (Healthy food)

Chakula cha asili (Local food)

Chakula cha nje (Foreign food)

Chakula cha eneo (Neighborhood food)

Chakula cha mitaani (Street food)

Changamoto/shida (Challenge/problem)

Mshindi/bingwa (Champion/winner)

Tatizo/shida (Challenge/problem)

Pesa ya mabadiliko (Change money)

Samaki mdogo (Small fish)

A common slang term for a young prostitute, taken from the name of a type of small fish. Somewhat derogatory street term...

Chapati/mkate (Flatbread/bread)

Short for chapati, but slang-wise it appears in idioms: achana na hizo chapo ('leave those issues alone') or anapiga cha...

Slap or hit.

Late; be late

“Don’t play with... \[subject]” used to warn that something/someone is not to be underestimated.

Mkuu/kiongozi (Leader/chief)

Tulia/pumzika (Chill/rest)

Chipukizi/mtu mdogo (Small fish/little person)

To provoke or hype someone (similar to Kenyan usage “encourage aggressively”).

Chochote/kitu chochote (Anything/any thing)

Slang for “super tired” (literally “tired bad”).

To unplug or pull out, slang for “drop it” or “ditch (an event).”

Choo/mahali pa haja (Toilet/need place)

Choroko/mbegu (Green grams/seeds)

Kiitikio/kiungo (Chorus/refrain)

Cheap local cigarette (also called **sportsman** colloquially).

Another term for 50 shillings (a half of a 'soc'), popular in Nairobi Sheng. From 'hamsini' via unknown etymology or the...

Chui/mtu mwepesi (Leopard/fast person)

Hate; dislike

Chumba/nafasi (Room/space)

Chumvi/kitu cha onja (Salt/taste thing)

Chuo/shule kubwa (College/big school)

Chuo Kikuu/shule kubwa (University/big school)

Sinema/mahali pa filamu (Cinema/movie place)

Uwajibiku/heshima (Class/respect)

Wimbo wa zamani (Old song)

Mwerevu/mjanja (Clever/cunning)

Cloud/hifadhi ya anga (Cloud/sky storage)

Klabu/kikundi (Club/group)

Timu ya pwani (Coast team)