Browse African Slang

Bodi ya zamani ya vyuo (Old placement board)

Slang for 'Khat' (miraa), the chewable stimulant leaves popular in Kenya. Also used to nickname someone who chews a lot.

Mrembo kwa Kiluo (Beautiful in Luo)

Bahati nasibu kuu ya kamari (Big betting jackpot)

Chombo cha baharini cha zamani (Traditional sailing vessel)

Msongamano wa Nairobi (Nairobi traffic)

Hisia za siku ya Jamhuri (Independence day vibes)

Familia (Family)

Kazi (Job)

Kiongozi kwa Kiluo (Leader in Luo)

Jitahidi tu (Just work hard)

Wakati wa jioni (Evening)

Tangazo la kazi (Job posting)

Mia tano (Five hundred shillings)

Juice ya mchanganyiko (Mixed juice)

Mfumo wa haki (Justice system)

Because (in Sheng usage, from literal “on/up”).

Phrase mixing English and Swahili meaning “because you’re broke/down.”

Siku chache zilizopita (Few days ago)

Charm or magical spell.

White person or foreigner.