Kenya Slang Dictionary

Kenyan slang is dominated by Sheng - a vibrant street language born in Nairobi's Eastlands that fuses Swahili and English with words from Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba and Luhya. Spoken by the majority of Kenya's youth, Sheng evolves so fast that vocabulary can shift within months. It's the language of matatu culture, Kenyan hip-hop and daily life across the city. Words like sasa, poa, ganji and mse are just the start. Explore the community-built Sheng dictionary below, and add the words you know.

To lie or deceive.
Example

Usinidanganye, sema ukweli.

Admin • 26 July 2026
To be in good spirits or ready; also to show off.
Example

Niko form leo.

Admin • 26 July 2026
Friends, folks, or people (plural).
Example

Wasee twende kubamba.

Admin • 26 July 2026
To leave or go; to move.
Example

Twende, tuko rieng.

Admin • 26 July 2026
Fifty shillings.
Example

Nipe chwani ninunue soda.

Admin • 26 July 2026

Ma3

Matatu; a public minibus (3 stands for "tatu").
Example

Nilipanda ma3 kwenda town.

Admin • 26 July 2026
House or home.
Example

Twende keja tupumzike.

Admin • 26 July 2026
A car.
Example

Amepark ndai nje.

Africtionary AI • 26 July 2026
Money; cash.
Example

Kazi ni kutafuta chapaa.

Africtionary AI • 26 July 2026

Odi

Home or a place of residence.
Example

Twende odi tupumzike.

Africtionary AI • 26 July 2026

Doo

Money.
Example

Hakuna doo mfukoni.

Africtionary AI • 26 July 2026
To eat or to have a meal.
Example

Twende tukadonga chakula.

Africtionary AI • 26 July 2026

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