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Advanced search  Sheng word English word Similar sheng word Area of origin Period Select Value Unknown 50's or earlier Mid 50's Late 50's Early 60's Mid 60's Late 60's Early 70's Mid 70's Late 70's Early 80's Mid 80's Late 80's Early 90's Mid 90's Late 90's Early 2000 Mid 2000 Late 2000 Current Sheng words  Word Meaning Location Similar Usage Period Etymology aajabu  Amazing  Unknown  -  uli cheki ile ndai ya aajabu = Did you see that amazing car?  Mid 2000  While this is a pure Swahili word, it's use in Sheng has the connotation of EXTREME WONDERMENT....   abdala  penis dick  Unknown  linga, Kei, Msedes, Nyundo, Mkwajo, Bakora, na linga, cahonas,  abdala yako iko njee - your penis is visible  Early 90's  -  achumbati  a girl  Athi River main street  Manzi, Mbus, Msupa, Supuu, Chimama, Mude, Dame, Mama, Kwara, Lale, Gwap, Jwap, Shpleng, Spleng, momiz  achumbati wa koya amevai - your girl is hot  Late 2000  -  Achwiti  Three quarter height trousers  Unknown  Trao, Three kwuonye, Longi  Pato ame ng'ara achwiti = Patrick is wearing three-quarter height trousers  Unknown  Unknown  Adida  1. Football 2. Boots  Unknown  Tango, ball  Team yetu ilibuyiwa adida nira = Our team was bought for a new ball  Mid 70's  The most famous brand name in footballs was Adidas. This is a contraction of that name.  Afko  alcohol  Unknown  Tei, Muwako, Mwako, Gauge, Barley, Bale, Chupa, Mmela  ako juu ya afko= he has drinking alcohol  Mid 80's  Derived from the Kenya Army's A.F.C.O (Armed Forces Canteen Organization) where alcohol is sold duty free. These canteens were famous in the 80s when access to the barracks was not heavily restricted as it is today.  Agote  He/She greets you - (but mostly used to refer to the clenched fist greeting)  Unknown  -  Mshow agote wadhii! = Tell him/her to say hi to folks  Unknown  From Sheng <i>Gota</i>  Akadai  1. He/she claimed 2. He/she died  Unknown  Deadie, ukata  1. Piri alikam akadai ati hedi ana tuna ita = The class prefect came in and claimed that the headmaster was calling us. 2. Ule konkodi alidondoka vidu kwa mat akadai = That tout missed his step while getting off the matatu, fell and died  Unknown  Formed by combining two words "aka" and "dai". Whereas "dai" is a proper Swahili word which means Claim, in Sheng it's casually used to mean claim but with the conotation of saying.  Akala  Type of sandals made of old tyres - famous among the Masaai and Kamba people  Unknown  Olipo  Akala za Rarewatts ni noma sana! = Rarewatts have some very nice sandals  Late 70's  unknown  Akamero  Garbage truck  Unknown  -  Akamero inakam! = The garbage truck is coming  Early 70's  Derived from the name of the garbage trucks... they were called "Cameron"  Akorino  Traffic policeman  Unknown  Njako, Trafik, Sinya, Ponyi, Danse  Oe! Kaa smart! Akorino!! = Beware! Traffic cops!  Mid 90's  Derived from the white turban that a religious sect called "Akorino" wears  Alidai  1. He/she claimed 2. He/she died  Unknown  Wika, lia, deadie, ukata  1. Piri alikam akadai ati hedi ana tuna ita = The class prefect came in and claimed that the headmaster was calling us 2. Cuzo wa mi alidie juzi = My cousin died the day before yesterday  Unknown  -  Alipewa  1. He/she was given a drink (usually alcohol) 2. He/she was given sex (though not commonly used)  Unknown  Waka, Guage, Keroro, Binja  1. Simo alipewa jana design bado ana tuna mpaka saa hii = Simon got so drunk yesterday such that he is still asleep now 2. Jeff alipewa na Lucy = Jeff got some sex from Lucy  Unknown  Borrowed from Swahili word <i>pewa</i> which means <i>be given</i>  Alloy  Rims  Unknown  Chrome, Javo  Alloy za lipstick zili lapwa! = The alloy rims of the matatu called lipstick (route 58) were stolen.  Late 90's  Originally from Chrome plated alloy rims. This word has recently been used for virtually any sporty or flashy looking rims.  Aluru  Quail  Unknown  Dush  Kwa akina Oti kuna aluru mob jo! = There are so many  Unknown  This word is a pure Luo word that means Quail. This bird is a delicacy among the Luo.  alutas  khat  Unknown  veve, mbachu, miti, gomba,   unajua alutas huenda hadi majuu? - are you aware that khat is exported?  Current  -  Ambaa  Leave  Unknown  Kacha, Guch, Amblu, Ishia  Si tuna ambaa = We're leaving  Unknown  -  Amebeat  He/she looks ugly  Unknown  -  Usha ng'am mami wa Jose? amebeat jo! = Have you seen Joseph's babe?! She's so ugly!  Unknown  unknown  Amechoka  1. He/she looks shabby/ugly  Unknown  amebeat, ameparara  Usha ng'am mami wa Jose? Amechoka jo! = Have you seen Joseph's babe?! She's so ugly!  Unknown  Borrowed from Swahili <i>Choka</i> which means tired.  Ameparara  He/she looks ugly  Unknown  -  Usha ng'am mami wa Jose? Ameparara jo! = Have you seen Joseph's babe?! She's so ugly!  Unknown  unknown  Amero  America  Unknown  Oteto, Steto   Bro aliguch amero = My brother went to the US  Unknown  Derived from America  Anadai  1. He/she is claiming 2. He/she is dying 3. He/she is laughing  Unknown  -  1. Yani sa ujama anadai sija mlipa? = Now this guy is claiming I've not paid him? 2. Pupa Charlie yuko hosi anadai = Pupa Charlie is hospital, dying 3. Jimmy ametoa joke amewacha ka Mudho anadai! = Jimmy has cracked a joke that's left Musa t  Unknown  Borrowed from English <i>die</i>.  Angukia  1. Fall on, stumble on 2. Be lucky  Unknown  Wahi  Saidi aliangukia manzi mpoa sana = Saidi was lucky to get a good girlfriend.  Mid 90's  From Swahili "anguka" which means to "fall".   Arbesa  40 shillings  Unknown  Kalucy, karoosi  Nione arbesa man! = Give me 40 shillings  Unknown  Borrowed from Arabic <i>Arba</i> which means Forty  Arme  Soldier  Unknown  Sonyi  Nime ng'am ma arme waki train huko nyayo = I've seen soldiers training at Nyayo stadium  Unknown  Derived from "Army"  Asapa  Here  Unknown  Usuku, Husuku  Kam asapa = Come here  Early 2000  Originated from South C and heavily used in several songs released by the late E-Sir   Asapaa  Here  Mugoya 1  Hapa, paha  Niko asapaa  Early 2000  Famously used by the late E-Sir in several of his songs. Probably derived from "hapa" - Swahili for "here".  Ashara  Ten  Unknown  Ashu  Fare ni ashara = The fare is ten shilling  Unknown  Derived from Arabic "Ashara" for ten but usually used in the context of money  Ashoo  Ten (usually money)  Unknown  Banga, Ganji, Munde, Kwacha, Kinde, Ashara, Ashu  Nione ashoo = Please give me ten shillings  Late 80's  Derived from old Swahili word "Ashara" which is Arabic.  Ashu  Ten (Usually of money)  Unknown  Banga, Ashara, Kinde, Kwacha, Munde, Ganji, Mang'ondo  Oe man! si uni wahi ashu?! = My guy! swing me ten shillings  Unknown  Possibly derived from "Ashara" ... Arabic for "Ten" and used in old swahili  Ati  That  Unknown  -  Oush amesema ati yuko = Ouma has said that he is in  Late 60's  From Swahili word "Eti" which is used to emphasize a situation  Atmo  Car  Baba Dogo  Ndae, Ndai, Moti, Mrenga,   Atmo ya bazenga ime dedi = My dad's car won't start/is dead  Late 2000  Contracted form of English word <i>Automobile</i>  Atoti  Babe  Unknown  Mtoto  Atoti si ucome? = Girl won't you come over?  Unknown  While not a luo word, it was coined in Kisumu from swahili for "mtoto" which also refers to a girl/woman/babe.. usually beautiful or one that has caught one's attention  Aunty  House help (female)  Unknown  Antee, Mboch, Mbotch, Auntee  Aunty wenu yuko wapi? = Where is your house help?  Unknown  While the word is from English, Sheng has adopted it's African version of bestowing respect to the house help given that she is the one that looks after the kids in the house. It's a rather matronly way of referring to the house help. <B>Note</b> This form of usage is unlike that in English where the aunt's name is usually mention e.g. "Aunty Lorna". A bit of a contradiction if you ask me :-)  Avunja  Boots - usually military or factory boots with tough toe tips.  Unknown  Ndula, Njumu  Nili ng'ara ma avunja noma sana = I wore some very hot boots!  Mid 70's  Probably from "vunja" - Swahili for "break". The toe tips of such boots are usually re-inforced  Azaro  A shirt  Unknown  -  Bazenga wa mi bado ana Azaro bana! = Imagine my dad still has an Azaro shirt!  Unknown  A brand of shirt that was a hit in the mid 80sà it was illegal NOT to have one! :-)