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.

Mambo

NEW
A greeting meaning "What's up?"; response is often "Poa".
Example

Mambo vipi?

Africtionary AI 3 hours ago

Sasa

NEW
A casual greeting meaning "What's up?" or "Hi".
Example

Sasa? Uko aje?

Africtionary AI 3 hours ago
Currency of Kenya (KES) issued by the Central Bank of Kenya. 1 Shilling = 100 cents.
Example

Banknotes feature Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta and wildlife.

Travel Admin 21 July 2025
Port city on Lake Victoria known for fishing and vibrant lakeside culture.
Example

Kisumu's Dunga Beach offers fresh tilapia straight from the lake.

Travel Admin 23 June 2025
Historic coastal city with Swahili culture and East Africa's largest port.
Example

Mombasa's Old Town features ornate Arab-style doors and architecture.

Travel Admin 23 June 2025
Kenya's capital and East Africa's tech hub, with thriving startups and wildlife parks.
Example

Nairobi National Park offers safari experiences just minutes from the city center.

Travel Admin 23 June 2025
An East African hub for technology and tourism, famous for wildlife, Nairobi, and marathon runners.
Example

Kenya's Maasai Mara hosts the annual wildebeest migration.

Travel Admin 23 June 2025
Fiti is derived from the term "fit" and is used to describe something that is good, cool, or trendy.
Example

Unapendeza, hizo nguo ni fiti!

You look great, those clothes are cool!

Uzzi 09 April 2025
Mambo is a versatile Swahili word that can be used in various contexts. It’s a casual greeting among friends, akin to saying “What’s up?".
Example

Friend 1: Mambo (What's up)

Friend 2: Poa (Cool)

Uzzi 09 April 2025
A man with a weak and feminine personality
Example

hey wena stop acting like a kangethe

Wenali 21 April 2023
It's a boneless, spongy and soft structure at the back of a woman,consisting of eastern and western hemispheres that make men go crazy.
Example

Siiet! That woman has some fine soft Nyash.

Augustine Bruno 18 January 2023

© 2020 Africtionary®