Chuma
CHOO-mah /ˈtʃu.mɑ/
"Chuma" is Sheng for money (also: to earn, to get hold of).
Meaning
- noun money; to earn, to get hold of. Literally 'iron', chuma became the default Sheng word for cash, and also a verb: kuchuma means to earn or to pull in money.
Examples
- Leo nimechuma kidogo tu. Today I earned only a little.
- Chuma iko wapi sasa? Where's the money now?
Similar and opposite words
Where it comes from
Swahili 'chuma' (iron); money as the hard metal of the street economy.
Questions about Chuma
What does Chuma mean in Sheng?
"Chuma" is Sheng for money (also: to earn, to get hold of). Literally 'iron', chuma became the default Sheng word for cash, and also a verb: kuchuma means to earn or to pull in money.
How do you use Chuma in a sentence?
"Leo nimechuma kidogo tu." means "Today I earned only a little."
How do you pronounce Chuma?
Say it CHOO-mah (/ˈtʃu.mɑ/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.
Where does the word Chuma come from?
Swahili 'chuma' (iron); money as the hard metal of the street economy.
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To quote this page: “Chuma.” Shengwords Sheng Dictionary, updated 2026-11-10. https://shengwords.co.ke/word/chuma (accessed 2026-11-10).