Browse Kenya Slang

A proverb from Kenya meaning true emotions will show in one's expression. When someone is in love, their face (the 'lett...

Sauti ya kuelewa (Sound of understanding)

Mwanamke kwa Kiturkana (Woman in Turkana)

Kabisa (Absolutely)

Safari ya masomo (Academic trip)

Wacha (Stop/leave)

Kaimu (Acting)

Kwa kweli (Actually)

Mapato ya matangazo (Ad revenue)

Short form of “address” meaning to mention or talk about.

Jengo la utawala (Administration block)

Mtu mzima (Adult)

Mkopo wa mshahara (Salary advance)

Kuchezwa hewani (Radio play)

Mchezo wa kitamaduni (Traditional game)

Viatu vya mti (Tire sandals)

Chakula kwa Kiturkana (Food in Turkana)

Kazi kwa Kiturkana (Work in Turkana)

Shamba kwa Kiturkana (Garden in Turkana)

Mungu kwa Kiturkana (God in Turkana)

No (Berber)

Halafu? (So what?)

Posho (Allowance)

Amani (Peace)

Amani iwe nawe (Peace be with you)

Harusi ya Kiluhya (Luhya wedding)

Amefanikiwa / Amebahatika (He/she has made it / become successful or rich)

Chakula kwa Kipokot (Food in Pokot)

Chakula kwa Kikalenjin (Food in Kalenjin)

Kutengeneza programu za simu (App development)

Tathmini (Appraisal)

Muziki wa mijini (Urban music)

Ardhi ya kilimo (Farm land)

Thank you

Mungu kwa Kikalenjin (God in Kalenjin)

Mtu asiyekubali kushindwa hana ushindani (One who doesn't accept defeat is not a competitor)

Asubuhi sana (Very early morning)

Ati nini? (Say what?)

Shida za kazi ya mazoezi (Internship problems)

Nyumba kwa Kiturkana (Home in Turkana)

Hapana! kwa Kimaasai (No! in Maasai)

Mazungumzo ya ndoa ya Kiluo (Luo marriage negotiations)

Bahari Kuu (Indian Ocean)

Masharti ya dhamana (Bail terms)

Literally 'disaster,' slang-wise means something extreme (good or bad). 'Mdem ni balaa' (the girl is unbelievably hot) o...

Mpira (Ball / football)

Mpira ni maisha (Ball is life)

Swahili for marijuana, used in slang to refer to anything crazy as well (like calling a wild idea 'ni bangi').

Twenty shillings

Mchezo wa kibao (Board game)