Browse African Slang

Kupata pesa (To eat / make money)

Kupokea pesa ya usafiri bila kwenda (To receive transport money without going)

Window shopping

Kula tu mboga bila nyama (To eat only vegetables)

Literally 'to eat with the eyes.' This phrase means to admire something you can't afford, essentially you can only 'feas...

Kushangaa sana (To be very surprised)

Literally 'eat fare,' means to use transport money for something else (usually food) and then walk or find another way h...

(Swahili, 'eat with the eyes') An expression meaning to enjoy something by just looking, often used when admiring an att...

Kutafuta kwa bidii (To search thoroughly)

To relax or take it easy.

To pay debt

To pay with saliva (promise to pay later)

Kufurahia sana (To enjoy greatly / be lit)

Kuweka pesa kwa simu (To add credit)

Kufuata kwa karibu (To mark closely)

Mjinga (Stupid)

Jua kali (Very hot)

Literally 'to shine,' slang for to look sharp or dress impressively. If someone says 'amekung'aa leo,' they mean he/she ...

(Sheng, lit. 'to uproot someone') Means to steal someone's partner. If you ng'oa mtu, you woo them away from their curre...

Kunguru (Crow)

To dress sharp or look fabulous.

It’s getting bad or intense (from “noma” meaning trouble).

Kufanya vizuri sana (To do something excellently)

Mvua (Raining)

Literally 'to straighten.' Slang: to beat someone up or to fix an issue strictly.

To borrow money

To become successful or rich suddenly.

Sheng (Kenyan slang) term meaning to suddenly become rich or successful. Kuomoka is 'to make it big' financially, often ...

Kutawala sherehe (To dominate the party)

Kufanya sherehe (To party)

To get money

(Swahili, 'taking to the parents') Refers to introducing one's partner to one's family. In East African culture, kupelek...

Kufanya (To do)

Kula sana (To eat a lot)

Kuzunguka chuo (To walk around campus)

Kujivunia (To boast)

Kutembea bila mwelekeo (To wander aimlessly)

To spend money partying

Kuongea (To talk / chat)

Kuibiwa (To be robbed)

Kuvuta (To pull / attract)

Kusukuma jambo (To push something)

Kura yangu ni siri (My vote is secret)

Kurudia somo (To repeat a course)

Kufanya kitu (To do something)

Kuridhika (To be satisfied)

To have money

Kuwa imara (To stand firm)

To 'catch the radar' means to understand or get what's happening.

Kuelewa (To understand / get it)