Shengwords

Rafiki

rah-FEE-kee /ɾɑ.ˈfi.ki/

"Rafiki" is Sheng for friend.

Meaning

  1. noun friend. Friend, used in Sheng exactly as in Swahili. Plural 'marafiki'. Sheng speakers often shorten it to 'rafi' in fast conversation.

Examples

  • Ni rafiki yangu tangu darasa la nne. He's been my friend since class four.
  • Rafi, nipe dakika moja. Friend, give me one minute.
See Rafiki used in other entries
  • Naenda kwa rafiki yangu.I'm going to my friend's place.From Kwa
  • Demu yule ni rafiki yangu tu.That girl is just my friend.From Demu
  • Ame kuja na rafiki zake wawili.He came with his two friends.From Na

Similar and opposite words

Same meaning

Where it comes from

Arabic 'rafiq' via Swahili 'rafiki'.

How it was made: Swahili base.

Questions about Rafiki

What does Rafiki mean in Sheng?

"Rafiki" is Sheng for friend. Friend, used in Sheng exactly as in Swahili. Plural 'marafiki'. Sheng speakers often shorten it to 'rafi' in fast conversation.

How do you use Rafiki in a sentence?

"Ni rafiki yangu tangu darasa la nne." means "He's been my friend since class four."

How do you pronounce Rafiki?

Say it rah-FEE-kee (/ɾɑ.ˈfi.ki/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.

Where does the word Rafiki come from?

Arabic 'rafiq' via Swahili 'rafiki'.

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