Tafadhali
tah-fah-DHAH-lee /tɑ.fɑ.ˈðɑ.li/
"Tafadhali" is Sheng for please.
Meaning
- adverb please. The polite request word. In fast Sheng speech it is often clipped to 'tafa' or replaced by tone alone.
Examples
- Tafadhali nipatie maji. Please give me some water.
- Tafa msee, nisaidie na mbao. Please man, help me out with some cash.
Similar and opposite words
Where it comes from
Arabic 'tafaddal' via Swahili 'tafadhali'.
How it was made: Swahili base.
Questions about Tafadhali
What does Tafadhali mean in Sheng?
"Tafadhali" is Sheng for please. The polite request word. In fast Sheng speech it is often clipped to 'tafa' or replaced by tone alone.
How do you use Tafadhali in a sentence?
"Tafadhali nipatie maji." means "Please give me some water."
How do you pronounce Tafadhali?
Say it tah-fah-DHAH-lee (/tɑ.fɑ.ˈðɑ.li/). Sheng is spelled the way it sounds, with stress on the second-to-last syllable.
Where does the word Tafadhali come from?
Arabic 'tafaddal' via Swahili 'tafadhali'.
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To quote this page: “Tafadhali.” Shengwords Sheng Dictionary, updated 2026-11-10. https://shengwords.co.ke/word/tafadhali (accessed 2026-11-10).