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.
Siiet! That woman has some fine soft Nyash.
Friend 1: Mambo (What's up)
Friend 2: Poa (Cool)
Unapendeza, hizo nguo ni fiti!
You look great, those clothes are cool!
Kenya's Maasai Mara hosts the annual wildebeest migration.
Nairobi National Park offers safari experiences just minutes from the city center.
Mombasa's Old Town features ornate Arab-style doors and architecture.
Kisumu's Dunga Beach offers fresh tilapia straight from the lake.