Browse African Slang

While it means 'to win/defeat,' in slang it's used to mean hanging out somewhere frequently.

Kushinda bahati nasibu (To win a bet)

Kukosa kushinda (To fail)

Kupungua nguvu (To lose energy / come down)

Kutilia maanani (To be impressed)

Kuingia DM (To slide into DMs)

Kusoma usiku kucha (To study overnight)

To be broke or struggle financially.

Kufuata mtu mtandaoni (To stalk someone online)

Kuelewa (To understand)

Kurudia mtihani (To retake an exam)

To look for money

Kutafuta mpenzi wa maisha (Looking for the one)

Literally 'to spit,' but in slang means to speak or rap.

Kutembea kwa miguu (To walk)

Kutuma ujumbe (To send a message)

From English 'throw words,' means to diss or subtly insult.

Kuweka (To put / to have)

Swahili for 'to remove sweat,' meaning to work extremely hard (sweating) for money. Used to emphasize effort put into ea...

To unlock or reveal something, often secrets.

To be genuine or drop pretenses (like removing tinted glasses to see clearly).

Kufanya vizuri sana (To nail it / do excellently)

Kuwa maarufu mtandaoni (To trend online)

Kuwa mtulivu (To be calm)

Kuimba wimbo (To release a song)

Kuhisi uchungu (To feel pain / be hurt)

Kuvaa vizuri (To dress well)

To harvest/get paid

Kuharibu (To mess up / disturb)

To be high (on substances) or to be on top/successful.

To be in good shape or doing well.

Kuwa na mchumba (To have someone)

Kuwa na hasira (To be angry)

From 'to be set up.' In slang, 'amewekewa' means he got cheated on or his partner found someone else (like someone place...

Being given a cut-off (like deadline) in dating: basically ultimatum. 'Dem ameniwekea cut-off' means the girl gave me a ...

Kwa sababu gani? (Why?)

Bahati njema (Goodbye)

Je? (What?)

Mwanamke kwa Kikalenjin (Woman in Kalenjin)

Shamba kwa Kikamba (Farm in Kamba)

Completely or absolutely.

Police officer (motorbike unit).

Small bribe or tip.

City council askari/inspector.

Trouble or messy situation.

Small child or petite lady.

A little amount.

Refers to big slum; used metaphorically for chaos.

Head, also smart person.

Return trip fare.