Chali
CHAH-lee /ˈtʃɑ.li/
"Chali" is Sheng for dude (also: guy, bro).
Meaning
- noun dude, guy, bro. A friendly way to name or call a male peer. Chali carries warmth; it is what you say to a friend you have not seen in a while.
Examples
- Chali wangu aliniita jana usiku. My dude called me last night.
- Ee chali, umekuwaje? Hey bro, how have you been?
- Chali yangu ako na ndai. My guy has a car.
See Chali used in other entries
- Vipi chali, umekuwaje?How's it going, dude?From Vipi
Similar and opposite words
Where it comes from
Nairobi coinage, popular through 1990s hip-hop and matatu culture.
Questions about Chali
What does Chali mean in Sheng?
"Chali" is Sheng for dude (also: guy, bro). A friendly way to name or call a male peer. Chali carries warmth; it is what you say to a friend you have not seen in a while.
How do you use Chali in a sentence?
"Chali wangu aliniita jana usiku." means "My dude called me last night."
How do you pronounce Chali?
Say it CHAH-lee (/ˈtʃɑ.li/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.
Where does the word Chali come from?
Nairobi coinage, popular through 1990s hip-hop and matatu culture.
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To quote this page: “Chali.” Shengwords Sheng Dictionary, updated 2026-11-10. https://shengwords.co.ke/word/chali (accessed 2026-11-10).