Shengwords

Level 2: Msee wa mtaa

Common street vocabulary most young Nairobians use without thinking.

Skip to the quiz or practise with flashcards

  1. Kazi KAH-zee

    "Kazi" is Sheng for work (also: job, task).

    • Naenda kazi saa kumi na moja.I go to work at five in the morning.

  2. Nganya NGAH-nyah

    "Nganya" is Sheng for heavily modified (also: loud matatu).

    • Nganya ile inapita na muziki mkubwa.That nganya is passing with loud music.

  3. Mjanja m-JAH-njah

    "Mjanja" is Sheng for sharp (also: streetwise person, clever one).

    • Yule msee ni mjanja, hakuuzi bei.That guy is sharp, he won't sell you a bad price.

  4. Piga Stori PEE-gah STOH-ree

    "Piga Stori" is Sheng for to chat (also: to gossip, to shoot the breeze).

    • Tulipiga stori mpaka jioni.We chatted until evening.

  5. Baze BAH-zeh

    "Baze" is Sheng for base (also: hangout spot, home turf).

    • Wasee wote wako kwa baze.All the guys are at the base.

  6. Luku Ni Moto LOO-koo nee MOH-toh

    "Luku Ni Moto" is Sheng for your outfit is fire (also: you look amazing).

    • Luku ni moto leo, msee!Your outfit is fire today, man!

  7. Sasa SAH-sah

    "Sasa" is Sheng for hey (also: what now, hi).

    • Sasa msee, uko wapi?Hey man, where have you been?

  8. Aki AH-kee

    "Aki" is Sheng for honestly (also: please).

    • Aki nisaidie na fare.Please, help me with fare.

  9. Ati AH-tee

    "Ati" is Sheng for what? (also: they say that).

    • Ati amehama bila kuniambia?What? He moved without telling me?

  10. Bag ni ya nini bahg nee yah NEE-nee

    "Bag ni ya nini" is Sheng for what's the bag for?.

    • Umekuja na backpack kwa date, bag ni ya nini?You came to a date with a backpack, what's the bag for?

Quiz: 10 questions

1. What does Kazi mean?

Next: Level 3: OG