Shengwords

Street life

Everyday life in the hood: gossip, drama and street sense.

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  1. Sheng shehng

    "Sheng" is Sheng for Nairobi's street language.

    • Wasee wa mtaa wanabonga Sheng.People in the hood speak Sheng.

  2. Mtaa m-TAH-ah

    "Mtaa" is Sheng for the hood (also: neighbourhood, street).

    • Nimekulia mtaani hapa.I grew up in this hood.

  3. 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.

  4. Skiza SKEE-zah

    "Skiza" is Sheng for listen (also: pay attention).

    • Skiza hii, msee, utashangaa.Listen to this, man, you'll be surprised.

  5. Mucene moo-CEH-neh

    "Mucene" is Sheng for gossip.

    • Leta mucene, nini ilifanyika jana?Bring the gossip, what happened yesterday?

  6. Kuchoma koo-CHOH-mah

    "Kuchoma" is Sheng for to bunk (also: to skip, to burn).

    • Tumechoma darasa la hisabati.We skipped maths class.

  7. Ngori NGOH-ree

    "Ngori" is Sheng for trouble (also: problem).

    • Hapo kuna ngori, usiende.There's trouble there, don't go.

  8. Udaku oo-DAH-koo

    "Udaku" is Sheng for gossip.

    • Wacha udaku, fanya kazi.Stop the gossip and do your work.

  9. Kisanga kee-SAH-ngah

    "Kisanga" is Sheng for scene (also: strange incident).

    • Kulikuwa na kisanga kwa stage leo.There was a scene at the bus stop today.

  10. Giza GEE-zah

    "Giza" is Sheng for darkness (also: blackout, shady business).

    • Kuna giza mtaani, stima imeondoka.It's dark in the hood, the power is gone.

Quiz: 10 questions

1. What does Sheng mean?

Next: Praise