Shengwords

Pesa

PEH-sah /ˈpɛ.sɑ/

"Pesa" is Sheng for money.

Meaning

  1. noun money. The plain Swahili word for money, used in Sheng whenever the speaker wants to be understood by everyone in the room.

Examples

  • Pesa za matatu zimeisha. The matatu fare money is finished.
  • Pesa haiozi, msee. Money doesn't rot, man.
See Pesa used in other entries
  • Hali ya pesa ni mbaya sana.The money situation is really bad.From Mbaya
  • Hali ya pesa ni mbaya sana siku hizi.The money situation is really bad these days.From Ni Mbaya
  • Wacha kubet, save pesa.Stop betting, save your money.From Kubet

Similar and opposite words

Where it comes from

From Portuguese/Indian 'peça' via Swahili 'pesa'.

How it was made: Swahili base.

Questions about Pesa

What does Pesa mean in Sheng?

"Pesa" is Sheng for money. The plain Swahili word for money, used in Sheng whenever the speaker wants to be understood by everyone in the room.

How do you use Pesa in a sentence?

"Pesa za matatu zimeisha." means "The matatu fare money is finished."

How do you pronounce Pesa?

Say it PEH-sah (/ˈpɛ.sɑ/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.

Where does the word Pesa come from?

From Portuguese/Indian 'peça' via Swahili 'pesa'.

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