Shengwords

Faranga

fah-RAH-ngah /fɑ.ˈɾɑ.ŋɡɑ/

"Faranga" is Sheng for money (also: funds).

Meaning

  1. noun money, funds. An older Sheng word for money with a slightly rough, street-corner flavour. You will hear it from traders and older wasee more than from students.

Examples

  • Faranga sina, lakini nitapata kesho. I have no funds, but I'll get some tomorrow.
  • Biashara bila faranga haitembei. Business without capital doesn't move.

Similar and opposite words

Where it comes from

Coastal Swahili/Sheng 'faranga' (money), possibly from 'franc'.

Questions about Faranga

What does Faranga mean in Sheng?

"Faranga" is Sheng for money (also: funds). An older Sheng word for money with a slightly rough, street-corner flavour. You will hear it from traders and older wasee more than from students.

How do you use Faranga in a sentence?

"Faranga sina, lakini nitapata kesho." means "I have no funds, but I'll get some tomorrow."

How do you pronounce Faranga?

Say it fah-RAH-ngah (/fɑ.ˈɾɑ.ŋɡɑ/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.

Where does the word Faranga come from?

Coastal Swahili/Sheng 'faranga' (money), possibly from 'franc'.

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To quote this page: “Faranga.” Shengwords Sheng Dictionary, updated 2026-11-10. https://shengwords.co.ke/word/faranga (accessed 2026-11-10).