Swahili base

Standard Swahili words that Sheng speakers use every day.

• Matatu minibus taxi
• Mtaa the hood, neighbourhood, street
• Sherehe party, celebration, festivity
• Kwa at, in, to, for, with
• Boda motorcycle taxi
• Kali fierce, intense, seriously good
• Uko aje how are you
• Sawa okay, alright, agreed
• Mbaya bad — but as an intensifier, insanely good
• Pesa money
• Moto fire, hot, amazing
• Kwani so?, why, is it that
• Kazi work, job, task
• Ati what?, they say that
• Kuhepa to escape, to dodge, to sneak away
• Maandamano street protests
• Niambie tell me, what's up
• Jua to know
• Rafiki friend
• Na and, with
• Asante thank you, thanks a lot
• Hatari dangerous — or dangerously good
• Kabisa completely, absolutely, at all
• Kwenda to go
• Karibu welcome, you're welcome, close by
• Kitambo long ago
• Kuja to come
• Mkuu boss, chief
• Mzae father, old man
• Mzuri good, nice, beautiful
• Venye how, the way
• Sana very, lot
• Kuishiwa to run out (of money, of options)
• Nzuri good, fine, beautiful
• Sio it is not, no
• Ugali ugali — stiff maize-meal porridge
• Habari news; hello (habari yako?)
• Kuchoma to bunk, to skip; to burn
• Nyumbani at home
• Chuo college, university
• Enyewe actually, honestly
• Kiasi bit, little
• Kula to eat
• Kuringa to show off, to act proud
• Kusaka to look for, to hunt for
• Madharau disrespect, looking down on people
• Mshamba villager, someone not street-smart
• Twende kazi let's go, let's get to work
• Udaku gossip
• Wacha mchezo stop joking, be serious
• Muziki music
• Nyama Choma grilled/roasted meat
• Pata to get, to find
• Pole sorry (sympathy), condolences
• Chakula food
• Sema to say, to speak
• Chapati chapati — oily flatbread
• Gari car
• Kidogo little, slightly, just a bit
• Kuchoka to be tired, very tired
• Mzee old man; respectful term for a grown man
• Chipsi french fries, chips
• Kukwama to get stuck, to be stranded
• Mjini in town, in the city centre
• Usiku night, at night
• Elewa to understand
• Kanywaji drink, alcohol
• Kazi ni kazi work is work
• Kiherehere being too eager, nosiness
• Kimbelembele busybody, know-it-all
• Kisanga scene, strange incident
• Kitambi pot belly
• Kuchomoka to dash off
• Kudandia to hop onto, to hang on
• Leo today
• Mjuaji know-it-all
• Mrembo beautiful woman; gorgeous one
• Nauli fare
• Saba Saba 7 July, day of protest
• Shule school
• Sijiskii I don't feel like it
• Baadaye later, afterwards
• Foleni traffic jam, queue
• Kesho tomorrow
• Kibarua casual job, gig, day labour
• Samahani excuse me, forgive me, sorry (apology)
• Tafuta to look for, to search
• Barabara road, street
• Jana yesterday
• Kaa to sit, to stay, to live
• Kijana young man, youth
• Kusoma to study, to read
• Cheza to play, to hang around, to mess about
• Jamaa the guy; relatives, folks
• Pia also, too, as well
• Pombe alcohol, booze
• Dereva driver
• Giza darkness, blackout; shady business
• Kubonda to beat up
• Lakini but, however
• Mashinani upcountry, in the rural home area
• Mshikaji close friend, partner
• Mtihani exam, test
• Saseni hello everyone
• Tafadhali please
• Bia beer
• Kulipa to pay
• Mitumba second-hand clothes, thrift goods
• Kudai to claim, to insist, to demand
• Kunywa to drink
• Kushuka to get off, to alight
• Nunua to buy
• Saa hour, clock, time
• Asubuhi morning
• Kupanda to board, to get on, to rise
• Mtoto child, kid
• Uliza to ask
• Upendo love
• Kukopa to borrow; to copy
• Maji water
• Saidia to help
• Askari police officer, guard, soldier
• Chai tea, milky spiced tea
• Dimba football, the pitch
• Klabu club, nightclub
• Kuwaza to think, to wonder
• Uza to sell
• Beba to carry, to bring along
• Biashara business, trade
• Bwana sir, mister, boss, husband
• Jioni evening
• Duka shop, store
• Furaha happiness, joy
• Kuiba to steal
• Mwalimu teacher
• Kelele noise, commotion
• Mshahara salary, wages
• Subiri to wait, patience
• Wiki week
• Mwanafunzi student
• Soko market
• Uongo lies, falsehood
• Deni debt, something owed
• Kibanda food kiosk, small roadside stall
• Ukweli truth, honesty
• Au or
• Kudanganya to lie, to deceive
• Msanii artist, creative
• Stima electricity, power
• Wasiwasi anxiety, unease, doubt
• Faida profit, benefit, use
• Kushangaa to be amazed, astonished
• Mwizi thief
• Kufaulu to pass, to succeed
• Kushiba to be full, to be satisfied after eating
• Mjinga fool, naive person
• Bei price
• Kukamatwa to be caught, to be arrested
• Mjengo tenement, hostel, rough building
• Hasira anger, rage
• Ofisi office
• Siri secret
• Uwanja field, pitch, stadium, yard
• Aibu shame, embarrassment
• Kutoroka to run away, to escape
• Darasa classroom, class
• Kushtuka to be startled, shocked, alarmed
• Mvivu lazy person
• Hofu fear, worry
• Shamba farm, rural plot
• Kitabu book
• Bidii diligence, hard work, effort