Kenyan Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms to Sound Like a Nairobi Local Stepping into Nairobi

Stepping into Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, you’ll quickly hear a vibrant mix of English, Swahili, and local dialects blended into a colorful urban slang. Often called “Sheng,” this playful language is ever-evolving—fueled by pop culture, music, and the everyday hustle of the city. If you’re aiming to connect with locals in a more authentic way, learning a few choice slang words is the key to unlocking Nairobi’s street vibe.

In this guide, we’ve compiled 100 essential Kenyan slang terms that will help you navigate from the matatu rides to local kiosks with confidence. Whether you’re greeting a buddy in Eastlands or haggling over produce at City Market, these expressions will bring a grin and a nod of recognition from any local.

Why Learn Kenyan Slang?

Deepen Your Cultural Insight
Kenya’s official languages—English and Swahili—are taught in schools, but street-level slang reveals how youth communicate, express humor, or share inside jokes. Understanding it can open doors to real conversations and lifelong friendships.

Enjoy Popular Music & Media
From Gengetone to local YouTubers, Kenyan pop culture is packed with slang. You’ll catch references and jokes that textbooks miss.

Break Barriers
Dropping a casual “Sema?” or “Aje?” can show you’re more than just a tourist—you’re trying to meet Kenyans on their own linguistic turf, which is a friendly gesture.

Fun Fact: A 2021 poll by a local radio station found that over 70% of Nairobi’s youth use Sheng daily, mixing it with English or Swahili in texts, social media, and face-to-face convos.

Quick Tips for Using Kenyan Slang

1. Gauge Your Audience: Some older Kenyans might not appreciate heavy slang. Use it primarily with peers or younger crowds.
2. Stay Updated: Slang in Nairobi changes fast. Words popular last year might fade if new ones enter the scene.
3. Don’t Overdo: Pepper in a few slang terms—too many can feel forced. A balanced approach comes across as natural.
4. Listen & Learn: The best way to perfect your slang usage is to listen to how locals actually use it—tune in to local radio shows, YouTube channels, or everyday banter.

Greetings & Everyday Expressions (1–10)

1. Sasa?
   • Meaning: “What’s up?” or “How are you?”
   • Usage: “Sasa, bro? Long time, no see!”
2. Niaje?
   • Meaning: Another way to say “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”
   • Usage: “Niaje, umepotea?” (“What’s up, you’ve been lost?” i.e. haven’t seen you around.)
3. Poa
   • Meaning: “Cool,” or “I’m good.”
   • Usage: “Habari yako?” “Poa tu.” (“How are you?” “I’m cool.”)
4. Fiti
   • Meaning: “Fine,” “great,” or “okay.”
   • Usage: “Niko fiti, asante.” (“I’m good, thanks.”)
5. Mambo vipi?
   • Meaning: “How are things?” or “What’s happening?”
   • Usage: “Mambo vipi leo?” (“How’s it going today?”)
6. Form ni gani?
   • Meaning: “What’s the plan?” or “What’s happening?”
   • Usage: “Leo usiku? Form ni gani?” (“Tonight? What’s the plan?”)
7. Aje?
   • Meaning: “How?” or “In what way?” but also used as “What’s up?”
   • Usage: “Aje sasa, uko sawa?” (“So, what’s up, are you okay?”)
8. Freshi barida
   • Meaning: “Super fresh,” often used to say you’re feeling really good or something is cool.
   • Usage: “Mtu wangu, uko freshi barida leo?” (“My guy, you feeling super fresh today?”)
9. Niko tu
   • Meaning: “I’m just here,” “I’m just chilling.”
   • Usage: “Sasa?—Niko tu, nothing big.” (“What’s up?—Just here, nothing big.”)
10. Kwani?
    • Meaning: “Why?” or “What’s the matter?” Usually rhetorical.
    • Usage: “Kwani unashangaa nini?” (“Why are you so surprised?”)

People & Friendship (11–20)

11. Msee
    • Meaning: “Man,” “guy,” or “dude.”
    • Usage: “Huyu msee anachekesha sana.” (“This guy is so funny.”)
12. Dem
    • Meaning: “Girl,” from English “dame.”
    • Usage: “Dem huyo ni mrembo aje!” (“That girl is so pretty!”)
13. Chali
    • Meaning: “Boyfriend,” or “dude,” depending on context.
    • Usage: “Huyo ni chali wangu,” (“That’s my boyfriend.”) or “Chali, ulipotea wapi?” (“Man, where did you disappear to?”)
14. Madam
    • Meaning: “Lady,” but in slang can be used ironically for a female friend.
    • Usage: “Sasa madam, umesikia story hiyo?” (“Hey lady, did you hear that story?”)
15. Mdosi
    • Meaning: “Boss,” either actual boss or used ironically among friends.
    • Usage: “Niaje mdosi, uko fiti?” (“What’s up boss, you good?”)
16. Fam
    • Meaning: From English “family,” used for close friends.
    • Usage: “Ebu check fam wako, they might want to join.” (“Check with your close friends, maybe they want to come.”)
17. Boy child / Girl child
    • Meaning: Casual way to reference “male friend/female friend” or “a guy/girl” from meme culture
    • Usage: “Boy child, si you fix that for me?”
18. Rafiki ya roho
    • Meaning: “Friend of the heart,” i.e. best friend.
    • Usage: “Huyo ni rafiki ya roho wangu tangu utotoni.” (“That’s my best friend since childhood.”)
19. Nyash
    • Meaning: “Butt,” slang referencing someone’s booty
    • Usage: “Anadai dem ako na nyash powa.” (“He says that girl’s got a nice figure/backside.”)
20. Buda
    • Meaning: “Old man,” ironically used for a friend, like “Dude,” “Mzee.”
    • Usage: “Buda, twende jobo leo?” (“Dude, are we going to work today?”)

Expressing Emotions & Reactions (21–30)

21. Alaa

• Meaning: Exclamation of surprise, like “Oh!” or “Whoa!”
• Usage: “Alaa, nilisahau kabisa!” (“Oh, I completely forgot!”)

22. Hiyo ni madharau

• Meaning: “That’s disrespect,” calling out rudeness.
• Usage: “Wewe kufika late daily—hiyo ni madharau!”

23. Sikua najua

• Meaning: “I didn’t know,” used when you’re caught off guard.
• Usage: “Sikua najua meeting imeanza.” (“I didn’t know the meeting had started.”)

24. Waah, mazee

• Meaning: “Wow, man,” or “Oh my goodness.”
• Usage: “Waah, mazee, hio gari ni fiti sana.” (“Oh man, that car is so nice.”)

25. Potezea

• Meaning: “Ignore it,” “Let it go,” from “kupoteza.”
• Usage: “Potezea tu, hakuna haja ya stress.” (“Just ignore it, no need to stress.”)

26. Nishachoka

• Meaning: “I’m already tired/fed up.”
• Usage: “Nishachoka na hii kelele, let’s bounce.”

27. Nico blank

• Meaning: “I’m blank,” can’t think or respond, from English “blank.”
• Usage: “Swali hilo ni ngumu, nico blank kabisa.”

28. Feeling kinda vibe

• Meaning: A mix of English, means “I’m feeling the vibe.”
• Usage: “Let’s go out—feeling kinda vibe tonight.”

29. Bila stress

• Meaning: “No stress,” “it’s easy,” or “take it easy.”
• Usage: “Hii kazi bila stress, I’ll do it fast.”

30. Kwa ground vitu ni different

• Meaning: “On the ground, things are different,” meaning reality differs from plan.
• Usage: “Online walionekana perfect couple, but kwa ground vitu ni different.”

Food & Dining Slang (31–40)

31. Chapo

• Meaning: Short for “chapati,” staple flatbread.
• Usage: “Let’s go get beans and chapo, best combo ever.”

32. Nduthi

• Meaning: “Motorcycle,” but sometimes referencing quick errands for food pickup.
• Usage: “Tuma nduthi ilete chakula haraka.” (“Send a motorbike to bring food quickly.”)

33. Kuspo (Kos + Po)

• Meaning: Variation on “full,” not a direct standard slang, but can be used ironically.
• Usage: “Belly yangu iko kuspo, can’t eat more.” (Fictitious usage but might be recognized in some youth circles.)

34. Kahawa tungu

• Meaning: “Strong black coffee,” used to denote intense stuff.
• Usage: “Need kahawa tungu to wake up, I’m so sleepy.”

35. Matumbo

• Meaning: “Tripe,” typical Kenyan dish, slang for “guts” or “courage.”
• Usage: “Wewe una matumbo, asking boss for a raise directly like that?”

36. Kuku choma

• Meaning: “Grilled chicken,” referencing local barbecue style.
• Usage: “Tukutane pale joint ya kuku choma, jioni.” (“Let’s meet at that grilled chicken joint in the evening.”)

37. Fresha

• Meaning: “Refreshment,” or “cool drink.”
• Usage: “Tulete fresha kali, need something cold.”

38. Bata

• Meaning: “Duck,” but slang for “fun times,” e.g. “kupeleka bata” means “to have fun.”
• Usage: “Weekends ni time ya kupeleka bata.” (“Weekends are for having fun.”)

39. Nyam chom

• Meaning: Short for “nyama choma,” grilled meat, a Kenyan favorite.
• Usage: “Nyam chom jioni? That’s the plan, let’s do it.”

40. Bumaye

• Meaning: Rare, comedic usage for “boiling tea” or “some hot drink.” (Less standard but recognized by some youth.)
• Usage: “Ebu nitengenezee bumaye, I’m freezing.”

Internet & Tech Slang (41–50)

41. Data imeisha

• Meaning: “My data’s finished,” i.e. no more internet bundle.
• Usage: “Data imeisha, can’t check Instagram now.”

42. Share location

• Meaning: “Send me your location,” from English usage.
• Usage: “Niko mtaa gani? Maze, share location quickly.”

43. TBT

• Meaning: “Throwback Thursday,” used widely on social media.
• Usage: “TBT, see me in primary school uniform!”

44. PM

• Meaning: “Private Message,” from English.
• Usage: “PM me the details for that job, thanks.”

45. DM

• Meaning: Direct message, from Instagram lingo.
• Usage: “DM me on IG if you have questions.”

46. Atee?

• Meaning: “What did you say?” used in chat or IRL.
• Usage: “Atee? Sikusikia vizuri.” (“What? I didn’t hear well.”)

47. Check in

• Meaning: “Check up on me,” or “Let me know how you’re doing,” from English.
• Usage: “Check in later, tell me how it went.”

48. Lipa na M-Pesa

• Meaning: “Pay with M-Pesa,” referencing Kenya’s mobile money system, used as slang for easy payment.
• Usage: “Usiniletee cash, lipa na M-Pesa tu.”

49. Vlog ya Leo

• Meaning: “Today’s vlog,” referencing daily video logs.
• Usage: “Niliwatch vlog ya leo, hilarious sana.”

50. Status / Story

• Meaning: Borrowed from social media stories or status updates
• Usage: “Check status yangu on WhatsApp, posted something interesting.”

Love & Dating Slang (51–60)

51. Mrembo
    • Meaning: “Beautiful,” referencing a pretty girl or woman.
    • Usage: “Huyu dem ni mrembo sana, jameni.”
52. Romba
    • Meaning: “To flirt or woo,” from dance connotation.
    • Usage: “Wewe romba that girl if you like her.”
53. Kukatia
    • Meaning: “To hit on someone,” literally “cutting at her/him.”
    • Usage: “Uliona vile alikukatia? She was so into you.”
54. Mzinga
    • Meaning: “Bottle of liquor,” but used for any big romantic gesture.
    • Usage: “He brought a mzinga of flowers? Sweeet!”
55. Crash
    • Meaning: “Crush,” borrowed from English, used with Kenyan accent.
    • Usage: “I have a big crash on that guy, but hush hush.”
56. Cheat day
    • Meaning: “Day off a diet,” ironically used to talk about a fling or break from normal routine.
    • Usage: “She’s got a cheat day from that strict relationship? Eh, interesting.”
57. Penzi moto
    • Meaning: “Hot love,” describing a passionate fling.
    • Usage: “Penzi moto sana until they parted ways dramatically.”
58. Kumanga
    • Meaning: “Seducing or hooking up,” from street usage
    • Usage: “He’s trying kumanga that new dem from campus.”
59. Mafunguo
    • Meaning: “Keys,” but slang for “the key to someone’s heart.”
    • Usage: “You got her mafunguo, man—she’s smitten.”
60. Mad love
    • Meaning: “Insane affection,” from English with local twist
    • Usage: “Mad love to my bae, she’s always supportive.”

Family & Daily Life (61–70)

61. Mathe
    • Meaning: “Mom,” a casual reference to mother.
    • Usage: “Mathe, unenda wapi saa hii?”
62. Fathee
    • Meaning: “Dad,” casual reference for father.
    • Usage: “Fathee ako job leo?” (“Is Dad at work today?”)
63. Mtaa
    • Meaning: “Hood” or “neighborhood.”
    • Usage: “Mtaa yetu imekuwa shwari these days.” (“Our neighborhood’s been chill lately.”)
64. Field
    • Meaning: “Out,” “away from home,” referencing outside tasks.
    • Usage: “I’m on field, can’t come home soon.”
65. Kusota
    • Meaning: “To be broke,” or “no money.”
    • Usage: “Kusota sana leo, can’t even buy lunch.”
66. Saa hii (Sahii)
    • Meaning: “Right now,” from “this moment.”
    • Usage: “Uko wapi saa hii? Tungekutana.” (“Where are you now? Let’s meet.”)
67. Maji moto
    • Meaning: “Hot water,” used to describe trouble or tight situation.
    • Usage: “Alijipata kwa maji moto with the boss, too many mistakes.”
68. Lala salama
    • Meaning: “Sleep peacefully,” used as a casual goodnight.
    • Usage: “I’m out, lala salama guys.”
69. Manyanga
    • Meaning: “Beautiful ladies,” or “hot ride,” depending on context.
    • Usage: “That matatu ni manyanga design—so flashy.”
70. Kanga
    • Meaning: Traditional wrap, used as slang for “cover-up” or “excuse.”
    • Usage: “Don’t kanga your mistakes, just fix them.”

Negative Feelings & Frustrations (71–80)

71. Kusumbua
    • Meaning: “To bother,” “to annoy.”
    • Usage: “Wewe unanisumbua—let me rest.”
72. Buda, achana
    • Meaning: “Dude, leave it alone,” telling someone to drop a topic.
    • Usage: “Buda, achana, that’s none of your business.”
73. Kununa
    • Meaning: “Pouting,” “sulking.”
    • Usage: “Kwanini unanuna kila saa? Smile, man.”
74. Bad mentality
    • Meaning: “Negative attitude,” from English usage.
    • Usage: “That’s a bad mentality, we need positivity.”
75. Sikunyui (Sick-oo-n-yoo)
    • Meaning: “I’m not swallowing your nonsense,” from “I’m not buying it.”
    • Usage: “Umenidanganya? Sikunyui, sorry.”
76. Deadness
    • Meaning: “Boredom,” from English “dead,” referencing a dull vibe.
    • Usage: “This party is total deadness, let’s bounce.”
77. Amekula block
    • Meaning: “He got blocked,” referencing phone or social media.
    • Usage: “Alimtusi, so amekula block kapisa.”
78. Kiliweza?
    • Meaning: “Could it handle?” or “Did you manage?” in frustration or challenge.
    • Usage: “Tried that new job? Kiliweza, or you gave up?”
79. Noma sana
    • Meaning: “This is big trouble,” from “Noma = trouble.”
    • Usage: “Noma sana bro, the landlord wants rent now!”
80. Machachari
    • Meaning: “Drama,” or “excessive fuss,” originally a kids’ TV show name.
    • Usage: “Machachari tu—ignore that nonsense drama.”

Pop Culture & Trends (81–90)

81. Gengetone
    • Meaning: A Kenyan music genre popular among youth.
    • Usage: “Are you into Gengetone? The beats are mad!”
82. Swag
    • Meaning: “Style,” from English, used among the youth.
    • Usage: “That outfit has swag, real talk.”
83. Mbogi
    • Meaning: “Crew,” “clique,” from Gengetone-inspired slang.
    • Usage: “Tunaenda hang out na mbogi jioni.”
84. Gota
    • Meaning: “Knuckle bump,” from fist-bump greeting culture.
    • Usage: “Give me a gota, bro—nice job.”
85. Nai
    • Meaning: “Nairobi,” short form.
    • Usage: “Nai is too busy, but I love it.”
86. Chorea
    • Meaning: “Dodge” or “avoid.”
    • Usage: “That event is nonsense, chorea them, let’s do our own plan.”
87. Mambos
    • Meaning: “Things,” from “mambo” (Swahili). Also slang for new trends.
    • Usage: “What are the new mambos in town?”
88. Tingika
    • Meaning: “Turn up,” from “tune up” or “get hype.”
    • Usage: “Tingika Friday, we party all night!”
89. Amefungwa
    • Meaning: “He’s locked up,” slang for “He’s in a relationship” or literally “in jail.”
    • Usage: “Don’t try flirtness, amefungwa, you know?”
90. Mapinduz
    • Meaning: “Revolution,” from Swahili “mapinduzi,” used ironically for big changes or new trends.
    • Usage: “Fashion mapinduz is real, look at these new styles!”

Additional 10 Slang Gems (91–100)

91. Limbo
    • Meaning: “In a stuck situation,” from “in limbo.”
    • Usage: “I’m in limbo, not sure to go or stay.”
92. Baze
    • Meaning: “Base,” or local hangout.
    • Usage: “Kuja baze, I’m chilling with the guys.”
93. Skiza
    • Meaning: “Listen,” from “sikiza.”
    • Usage: “Skiza, I have something important to say.”
94. Chop
    • Meaning: “To eat,” from English.
    • Usage: “Let’s chop something small before heading out.”
95. Mafans
    • Meaning: “Fans,” from “fans” in English, referencing supporters or admirers.
    • Usage: “Mafans woke me up early, they love my music.”
96. Kuwakilisha
    • Meaning: “Represent,” from “kuwakilisha.”
    • Usage: “We’ll kuwakilisha our hood at the competition.”
97. Msupa
    • Meaning: “Girl,” or “babe,” from “mrembo.”
    • Usage: “That msupa is so stylish, man.”
98. Blaad
    • Meaning: “Blood,” used to say “brother” in a street sense.
    • Usage: “Blaad, let’s hustle together.”
99. Cheki story
    • Meaning: “Check this story,” from “check + story.”
    • Usage: “Cheki story: you won’t believe what happened yesterday.”
100. Mazee
     – Meaning: “Man,” “buddy,” or an exclamation “Man!”
     – Usage: “Mazee, I can’t believe we made it. Good job!”

Conclusion: Embrace the Sheng Spirit

Hongera! You’ve just loaded your mental dictionary with 100 Kenyan slang terms that capture the rhythm and wit of Nairobi’s street language. By mastering a few expressions—like “Sasa?” or “Niko fiti”—you’ll surprise locals and unlock a new level of cultural immersion.

Final Tips:

• Context Matters: Sheng is fluid, so pick up on cues. Some words might be more common in certain neighborhoods or among certain age groups.
• Practice & Observe: Listen to Kenyan music, watch local vlogs, and try out these terms with friends.
• Keep It Fresh: Slang evolves quickly—stay in tune with new shows, songs, and social media trends for the latest “keywords.”

Call to Action

Which slang word are you most excited to use? Share your favorite in the comments! If you loved this guide, please share it with other language enthusiasts or on social media. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insider tips on culture and language from around the world.

Now, it’s time to step out into Nairobi’s lively streets, greet your msee with a casual “Niaje?” and explore the city with fresh ears and a Sheng dictionary at your side. Kwaheri, and happy slang learning!

See Also: Persian Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms for Conversational Farsi Fluency