Pole
POH-leh /ˈpɔ.lɛ/
"Pole" is Sheng for sorry (sympathy) (also: condolences).
Meaning
- interjection sorry (sympathy), condolences. Pole is what you say when someone is tired, sick, grieving or has had a rough day. It is sympathy, not apology — for 'I'm sorry I did it' use 'samahani'.
Examples
- Pole kwa kazi, msee. Sorry about the hard work, man.
- Pole sana kwa msiba. My deepest condolences for the loss.
Similar and opposite words
Where it comes from
Swahili 'pole' (sympathy).
How it was made: Swahili base.
Questions about Pole
What does Pole mean in Sheng?
"Pole" is Sheng for sorry (sympathy) (also: condolences). Pole is what you say when someone is tired, sick, grieving or has had a rough day. It is sympathy, not apology — for 'I'm sorry I did it' use 'samahani'.
How do you use Pole in a sentence?
"Pole kwa kazi, msee." means "Sorry about the hard work, man."
How do you pronounce Pole?
Say it POH-leh (/ˈpɔ.lɛ/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.
Where does the word Pole come from?
Swahili 'pole' (sympathy).
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To quote this page: “Pole.” Shengwords Sheng Dictionary, updated 2026-11-10. https://shengwords.co.ke/word/pole (accessed 2026-11-10).