Street inventions
Words made up on the street with no clear parent.
- Sheng Nairobi's street language
- Fala fool, idiot
- Ushago upcountry, the village
- Mubaba sugar daddy, rich older man
- Bag ni ya nini what's the bag for?
- Chap chap quickly, fast
- Haina noma no problem
- Zii no
- Alele mtoto chant from the song 'Kitemeo'
- Dinga car
- Kabambe simple button phone
- Kibao lot, plenty
- Madondo beans
- Manyanga flashy matatu
- Mumama sugar mummy, rich older woman
- Ngori trouble, problem
- Njumu shoes
- Alele miraa, khat
- Bao goal
- Gengetone Nairobi music style
- Hii imeenda it's a done deal
- Jav matatu
- Kuchapa lapa to walk, to go on foot
- Kudata to fall hard for someone
- Kwani ni kesho why wait, live for today
- Mambo ni matatu there are only three options
- Mapema ndio best early is best
- Mnoma someone very good at something
- Mos mos slowly, gently
- Ndom weed, cannabismature
- Ngeta mugging by choking from behind
- Sanse police officer
- Sare free ride, to let something go
- Veve miraa, khat
- Chang'aa strong home-made spiritmature
- Inauma but itabidi uzoee it hurts but you'll have to get used to it
- Kufinish kumalo to finish completely
- Kumada to finish
- Kumi na nne supuu top quality, the best
- Mchongo deal, way to make money
- Munde money
- Ngepa cap, hat
- Ni God manze it's all thanks to God
- Shada weed, cannabismature
- Si uchawi ni maombi it's not witchcraft, it's prayer
- Sipangwingwi nobody tells me what to do
- Aroo hey, I'm here
- Chobo nutmeg
- Kauzi thief
- Mbwakni annoying, restless, fake
- Mgondi thug, robber
- Mozo cigarettemature
- Odijo teacher
- Vako lie, bluff
- Mafurumbanya curvy woman