Sample of sheng Language
Sample vocabulary
Sheng is a communication language that is widely used in kenyan towns e.g Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, etc. It originated in the suburbs of Nairobi, as well as from the matatu touts.
Below are some of the translations of some of the commonly used words in sheng to english words. Have a look below-
| Sheng | English (definition) |
|---|---|
| mnati | fluent speaker of Sheng, person who is good at something |
| babi, barbie | person who doesn't speak Sheng, person from a wealthy background |
| bonga (bong-gah) | talk |
| bonga mavi | talk smack |
| dai | want |
| dungia (doong-gi-ah), gawia, chapia | give, share (with) |
| pack | live (somewhere) |
| deng'a, thwau, bunde, mchuma, mtoo, ridhe, fee | gun, firearm |
| chapaa, munde, mundez, niado, ganji, dough, cheddar, mkwanja | money |
| so, kioo, oss, red | one hundred shillings |
| finje, chuani | fifty shillings |
| mbao, blue | twenty shillings |
| ashuu, shoe, kindee, ikongo | ten shillings |
| ngovo, kobole, guoko | five shillings |
| rwabe, jill | two hundred shillings |
| punch, jirongo | five hundred shillings |
| thao, gee (like the letter G), kapaa, ngiri, ngwanye, ndovu, kei (like the letter K), muti | one thousand shillings |
| fala, mwere (mweh-reh) | stupid person, idiot |
| ocha, moshatha | up country, rural home/area |
| noma, niku hatata, wa gwan | in a mess, trouble |
| asubuhi, morgen | morning |
| njeve | cold |
| ingiza njeve | get scared, be afraid, chicken out |
| chapo | chapati |
| ngodha | underpants |
| msee, kizee, mdhii, mguys, mzeiya, mtungwaz | guy, dude |
| dame, mresh, supuu, msupa, manzi, shore (sho-reh; from "shawty"), msusu, mroro | girl, chick |
| buda, mzae | old man |
| gweng | hard (difficult) |
| zi, nada, do, nah | no |
| mathree, mat, jive, jav, buu | matatu |
| deree, kigonyi | driver |
| konkodi, makanga, manumber | bus/matatu conductor |
| fegi, mozo, ngale, fuaka | cigarette |
| bangi (bang-gee), gode (goh-deh), juala | weed |
| karao, gova, sanse | police |
| keja, hao, mbanyu, base, diggs | house, home |
| matha, mathe, mthama | woman |
| mboch | housegirl (maid) |
| mbota | watch |
| mbwenya | coat |
| mdosi, sonko | boss, rich person |
| msoto | poor person |
| sota | go bankrupt |
| mdosi, fathe, mbuyu, buda | dad |
| masa, mathe, mnyaka, mokoro, moda | mum |
| nare (nah-reh) | fire, matches |
| ndai, moti, murenga, dinga | car |
| ngata (ng-gah-tah), gede (geh-deh) | fuel |
| nguenos, ngwex, mwewe | chicken |
| njumu, njuti, ndula | shoes |
| poa, wazi | cool |
| ubao, maunenge | hunger |
| veve, mbachu, shamba | miraa |
| kuber (koo-beh-rr), kubz | (chewing) tobacco |
| mburungo | cargo |
| chapa, donje, kiatu | ugly |
| chipo, vibanzi, chibaz, njiva, vanga | chips |
| fika, ishia, jikata | to go somewhere |
| kirindi | crowd |
| earthwire | neck tie |
| dush, nyoni | bird |
| mavi, mafi, shonde | faeces |
| shower | rain |
| mode (moh-day) | teacher |
| mtaa | city, town, streets, neighbourhood |
| majuu, chambele | Western world |
| mngoso, mlami | white person, Caucasian person |
| mtiaji, msororaji | snitch, tattletale |
| kauzi, thegi, gondi, dingo, obe (ob) | thief, thug, mugger, burglar |
| masaa, githaa | time |
| mshikaji | boyfriend/girlfriend |
| pasuka, raruka | laugh |
| karokota, doze | take a nap, sleep |
| nyaku, waka, washa | drink (alcohol) |
| tei | alcohol |
| N.B. Words in brackets in the Sheng column show how the word is pronounced. | |
 |
|---|
