What is Sheng?
Sheng is the street language of Nairobi, Kenya. It uses Swahili grammar and mixes in words from English and from Kenyan languages like Kikuyu, Luo and Luhya. The name is said to come from Swahili and English.
Where Sheng came from
Sheng grew in the Eastlands estates of Nairobi in the 1970s. Young people from many language groups lived side by side and needed a shared way to talk. They also wanted words their parents and teachers would not understand.
From there it spread through matatus, radio shows, and Kenyan hip-hop and genge music. Today you hear it in adverts, on TV and across social media.
How Sheng works
A Sheng sentence is built like a Swahili sentence, but many of the words are swapped:
| Swahili | Rafiki yangu hana pesa. |
|---|---|
| Sheng | Beste yangu hana chuma. |
| English | My friend has no money. |
New words are made in a few common ways: English words are bent to fit Swahili grammar (kukam, to come), words are cut short (salo, salary), or flipped around (ondi for ndio). See how Sheng words are made.
Why Sheng keeps changing
Part of the point of Sheng is that outsiders can't follow it. When a word becomes too well known, a new one takes its place. That is why there are many words for money, police and girls, and why Sheng from the 1990s can sound old school today.
Words to start with
- Niaje what's up, how are you
- Poa cool, fine, all good
- Msee guy, person, dude, mate
- Chuma money; to earn, to get hold of
- Mbogi crew, gang, one's people
- Mtaa the hood, neighbourhood, street
- Tao town, the city centre
- Sasa hey, what now, hi
Start learning: level 1 Browse all 583 words
Common questions
What does Sheng mean?
Sheng is the name of Nairobi's street language. The name is said to come from mixing the words Swahili and English.
Is Sheng a language?
Sheng is a spoken street language, sometimes called an urban slang. It uses Swahili grammar with words from English and other Kenyan languages. It is not taught in school and has no official spelling.
Where is Sheng spoken?
Sheng started in Nairobi's Eastlands estates. Today it is heard in towns all over Kenya, on radio, in music and online.
Who speaks Sheng?
Mostly young people, but many Kenyans of all ages understand it. Words change fast, so older and younger speakers often use different words.
What is the difference between Sheng and Engsh?
Sheng is built on Swahili. Engsh is built on English with Swahili and Sheng words mixed in, and is linked with Nairobi's richer estates.
How can I learn Sheng?
Start with greetings and the most common words, listen to Kenyan music and matatu talk, and practise with short quizzes. Our Learn section has three levels.