About Shengwords

Shengwords explains Sheng, Nairobi's street language, to anyone: Kenyans checking a new word, parents decoding a group chat, students, writers and visitors.

How entries are written

The dictionary has 583 words and 796+ example sentences. Every definition and example is written for this site in plain English. We note where you'd hear a word, how strong or rude it is, and what it's close to in Swahili and English.

How we keep up

Sheng moves quickly, so we watch public word lists, music and social media for new terms, and read every suggestion from readers. When a new word shows up, an editor writes or reviews an original entry before it goes live. We never copy another dictionary's definitions or examples.

Pronunciation

Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, so each entry shows a simple respelling (the stressed syllable in capitals) and IPA. Where a real speaker has recorded a word, you'll hear them; otherwise your device's Swahili voice reads it. You can record any word from its page.

Use our data

The dictionary is open under CC BY 4.0. See open data for the JSON download.

Contact

Spotted a mistake? Use “Suggest a fix” on any entry, or suggest a new word. See also our privacy policy and terms.

How we use AI

AI helps us write first drafts and powers the translator. An editor checks entries, and new words only go live on their own when they are backed by more than one source and are not about a sensitive topic. Quotes from songs or films are added by people, never by AI.