Browse African Slang

Long story/chat

Means a group of close friends (like “clique” or crew).

شيشة - Hookah

Lots of banknotes (cash money, like stacks of sheets of paper).

Means a low blow or something shady (from “shifta” – bandit). Usage: Asking about her ex in front of her fiancé was shef...

Literally 'bastard,' but youth use shege playfully to mean a mischievous person or as an expletive like 'damn!'

Useless suffering/Nonsense stress (Pointless suffering)

Religious leader or respected elder; in Algeria, 'Sheikh' can mean Quranic teacher, Sufi master, or just the old man who...

Village sheikh

شيك (Check / cheque)

ሸቃጣይ/ሸቃጣይ (Shekatay) - seller

Means style or appearance. Youth comment “shekla new!” when someone looks good (like “nice fit!”). Usage: That jacket? S...

Wedding shawl

شلة - Friend group

Shem (Shame/Sorry)

Expression of pity/affection.

Expression of pity/affection.

ሸማ/ሸማ (Shema) - traditional cotton cloth

ሸማቾች/ሸማቾች (Shemachoch) - buyers

ሽማግሌ/ሽማግሌ (Shemagile) - elder

ሸማኔ/የምትፈልገው ሰው (The one you desire)

Left

Referencing strict vibe / moral stance.

Shemeji (Brother-in-law - from Swahili)

Old Addis neighborhood name used to describe something old-school or outdated in style. Usage: That dance move is straig...

Sun

شمس حارقة (Scorching sun)

شمس حارقة - شمس حارقة (burning sun)

Not a slang word per se, but the name of Nairobi urban slang itself. However, people even use 'Sheng' to greet ('Sheng!'...

To snub or ignore someone deliberately. If you invite someone and they don't show, they shenked you

شراء - Purchase/Buying

شراكة (Partnership)

Swahili word for 'celebration/party,' used in slang to mean any turn-up or fun event (also rave in Sheng for party).

Hafla kbira (Big celebration - from Swahili)

Sherehe/furaha (Celebration/joy)

Hafla farhan (Happy party)

Karamu ya kuhitimu (Graduation party)

Annual celebration

Karamu ya nyumbani (Home celebration)

Clan celebration

Furaha za ukoo (Family celebrations)

Faith celebrations

Generational celebrations

Sherehe za mtaa (Neighborhood celebrations)

Coastal celebrations

Clan celebrations

Island laws

Environmental laws

Mahalla sharikat (Companies area)

شركة - Company