Shengwords

Habari

hah-BAH-ree /hɑ.ˈbɑ.ɾi/

"Habari" is Sheng for news (also: hello (habari yako?)).

Meaning

  1. noun news; hello (habari yako?). The formal-ish greeting that Sheng speakers still use with elders, teachers and strangers. 'Habari yako?' asks for your news; the answer is almost always 'nzuri'.

Examples

  • Habari za asubuhi, mwalimu? Good morning, teacher?
  • Habari yako? — Nzuri tu. How are you? — Just fine.
See Habari used in other entries
  • Habari ile ilinishtuka sana.That news shocked me a lot.From Kushtuka

Similar and opposite words

Same meaning

Where it comes from

Arabic 'khabar' via Swahili 'habari'.

How it was made: Swahili base.

Questions about Habari

What does Habari mean in Sheng?

"Habari" is Sheng for news (also: hello (habari yako?)). The formal-ish greeting that Sheng speakers still use with elders, teachers and strangers. 'Habari yako?' asks for your news; the answer is almost always 'nzuri'.

How do you use Habari in a sentence?

"Habari za asubuhi, mwalimu?" means "Good morning, teacher?"

How do you pronounce Habari?

Say it hah-BAH-ree (/hɑ.ˈbɑ.ɾi/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.

Where does the word Habari come from?

Arabic 'khabar' via Swahili 'habari'.

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