If you spend time in Nairobi or other parts of Kenya, you may hear conversations that sound very different from standard Kiswahili or English.
Someone might say “Niaje?”, “Sasa?”, “Niko fiti”, or “Usijali, niko rada.” These are examples of the informal language used in everyday Kenyan conversations.
Much of this language is known as Sheng, a constantly changing urban variety that draws heavily from Kiswahili and English, while also borrowing words from other Kenyan languages. New expressions can appear quickly, while older ones may become less common.
This guide explains common Sheng words and informal expressions, what they generally mean, and how they are used in everyday conversation.
What is Sheng?
Sheng is an informal way of speaking that developed particularly in Kenya’s urban areas. It combines elements of Kiswahili, English and several Kenyan languages.
It is especially common among young people and in casual conversations, music, social media and popular culture.
Sheng is not a fixed language with one permanent vocabulary. Its words and meanings can change depending on the town, age group, social setting and current trends.
For that reason, the same expression may not be equally popular everywhere in Kenya.
Common Sheng words and expressions
Niaje?
Meaning: How are you? / What’s up?
Example:
Niaje bro?
How are you, bro?
It is a very common casual greeting, particularly among young people.
Sasa?
Meaning: What’s up? / How are you?
Example:
Sasa, uko aje?
What’s up, how are you?
Although sasa is also a normal Kiswahili word meaning “now”, it is widely used as an informal greeting in Kenya.
Mambo?
Meaning: What’s up? / How are things?
Example:
Mambo vipi?
How are things?
A common casual greeting.
Poa
Meaning: Fine, cool, okay.
Example:
Uko aje?
Poa.
How are you?
Fine.
Poa is also widely understood as informal Kiswahili.
Fiti
Meaning: Fine, good, okay.
Example:
Niko fiti.
I’m fine.
It is commonly used in casual Kenyan speech.
Rada
Meaning: Awareness, attention, information or being informed.
Example:
Kaa rada.
Stay alert.
You may also hear:
Niko rada.
I’m aware / I’m following what’s happening.
Niko rada
Meaning: I’m aware / I know what’s going on.
Example:
Usijali, niko rada.
Don’t worry, I’m aware.
Uko rada?
Meaning: Are you aware? / Do you know what’s happening?
Example:
Uko rada kuhusu meeting ya kesho?
Are you aware of tomorrow’s meeting?
Chapaa
Meaning: Money.
Example:
Uko na chapaa?
Do you have money?
The exact spelling and popularity of Sheng words can vary.
Mbogi
Meaning: Group, crew or group of friends.
Example:
Hii ni mbogi yetu.
This is our group.
It can refer to a group of friends or people who regularly spend time together.
Base
Meaning: A usual meeting place or home area.
Example:
Tuko base.
We’re at the usual spot.
The expression is particularly associated with informal urban conversation.
Kanairo
Meaning: Nairobi.
This is a playful informal name for Kenya’s capital.
Example:
Niko Kanairo leo.
I’m in Nairobi today.
Tao
Meaning: Nairobi city centre or town centre.
Example:
Niko tao.
I’m in town.
In Nairobi, tao is commonly used informally to refer to the city centre.
Matatu
Meaning: Public minibus.
Example:
Nimepanda matatu ya town.
I’ve taken a matatu to town.
Although matatu is now a standard Kenyan term rather than purely Sheng, it is an essential part of informal Kenyan vocabulary.
Nduthi
Meaning: Motorcycle taxi, commonly known as a boda boda.
Example:
Nitapanda nduthi.
I’ll take a motorcycle taxi.
Buda
Meaning: A casual way of referring to a man, friend or older male.
Example:
Buda, uko wapi?
Bro, where are you?
The expression is informal and context-dependent.
Msee
Meaning: Man, guy or person.
Example:
Yule msee ni rafiki yangu.
That guy is my friend.
It is commonly used in casual Kenyan speech.
Dem
Meaning: Girl or young woman; sometimes girlfriend depending on context.
Example:
Yule ni dem wa class yangu.
She’s a girl from my class.
The meaning depends heavily on context.
Mresh
Meaning: Girlfriend or attractive young woman, depending on context.
It is informal and can have different meanings among different speakers.
Maze
Meaning: A casual way of addressing a friend, similar to “bro”, “man” or “mate”.
Example:
Maze, umefika?
Bro, have you arrived?
Bro
Meaning: Friend, brother or male acquaintance.
Example:
Bro, niko njiani.
Bro, I’m on my way.
Although borrowed from English, bro is now very common in informal Kenyan speech.
Form
Meaning: Style, appearance or general look.
Example:
Form iko aje?
How’s the style/look?
Depending on context, form can refer to someone’s appearance or how they are presenting themselves.
Kumake
Meaning: To understand, realise or get something.
Example:
Sasa nimekumake.
Now I understand.
Nimekumake
Meaning: I’ve understood / I’ve realised.
Example:
Nimekumake vile ulisema.
I’ve understood what you said.
Kubonga
Meaning: To talk or speak.
Example:
Tulikua tunabonga tu.
We were just talking.
Kuomoka
Meaning: To become financially successful or make money.
Example:
Anataka kuomoka kupitia biashara.
He wants to become successful through business.
Kula
In ordinary Kiswahili, kula means “to eat”. In some Sheng contexts, however, it can be used more broadly to mean benefiting financially or getting money, depending on the sentence.
Example:
Leo tumekula.
We made money today.
The meaning here is contextual rather than the literal “we ate”.
Kuchapa
Meaning: Depending on context, to do something quickly, work hard, hit, or perform an activity.
Example:
Tunachapa kazi.
We are working hard.
The expression chapa kazi is also widely understood outside Sheng.
Kuget
Meaning: To get, understand or obtain something.
Example:
Umeget?
Do you understand?
This comes from the English word “get”.
Kucheck
Meaning: To check or look at something.
Example:
Ngoja nicheki.
Let me check.
The verb combines an English root with a Kiswahili-style prefix.
Ku-link
Meaning: To meet, connect or get in touch.
Example:
Tutalink jioni.
We’ll meet/get in touch in the evening.
Ku-ghost
Meaning: To suddenly stop communicating with someone.
Example:
Alinighost baada ya ile conversation.
He/she stopped communicating with me after that conversation.
This is a newer expression influenced by global internet and social-media language.
Common informal Kenyan expressions
Usijali
Meaning: Don’t worry.
Example:
Usijali, kila kitu iko sawa.
Don’t worry, everything is fine.
Hakuna noma
Meaning: No problem / It’s okay.
Example:
Pole kwa kuchelewa.
Sorry for being late.
Hakuna noma.
No problem.
Shwari
Meaning: Calm, peaceful or fine.
Example:
Mambo shwari.
Things are fine.
Si ati…
Meaning: It’s not that… / Not that…
Example:
Si ati sitaki kuja.
It’s not that I don’t want to come.
This construction is common in informal Kenyan speech.
Kumbe!
Meaning: So that’s why! / I see! / It turns out!
Example:
Kumbe ulikuwa hapa!
So you were here!
Acha izo
Meaning: Stop that / Don’t exaggerate / Come on.
It is usually used informally among friends.
Wacha mchezo
Meaning: Stop joking around / Be serious.
Example:
Wacha mchezo, tunachelewa.
Stop joking around, we’re getting late.
Hii maneno
Meaning: These things / this situation / what is happening.
It is a common informal construction, although standard Kiswahili would use different grammatical forms depending on context.
Si poa
Meaning: That’s not good / That’s not okay.
Example:
Hiyo kitu si poa.
That thing isn’t good.
Niko sawa
Meaning: I’m okay / I’m fine.
This is standard Kiswahili but is extremely common in informal Kenyan conversation.
Haina noma
Meaning: It’s not a problem / It’s okay.
Example:
Ukichelewa kidogo haina noma.
If you’re a little late, it’s not a problem.
Sheng expressions about money
Money has generated many Sheng expressions over the years.
Some commonly heard informal terms include:
- Chapaa – money
- Mkwanja – money
- Dough – money
- Pesa – money
- Kula pesa – to make or benefit from money, depending on context
- Kuomoka – to become financially successful
- Kukata – to be short of money or struggling financially, depending on context
Because financial slang changes quickly, some expressions may be more popular among particular age groups or communities than others.
Sheng expressions used in conversations
Here are some examples of how Sheng and informal Kenyan speech can sound in everyday conversation.
A: Niaje maze?
B: Niko fiti. Wewe je?
A: Niko poa.
English:
A: What’s up, bro?
B: I’m fine. How about you?
A: I’m good.
Another example:
A: Uko rada kuhusu ile meeting?
B: Ndio, nimekumake.
A: Sawa, tutalink tao.
English:
A: Are you aware about that meeting?
B: Yes, I understand.
A: Okay, we’ll meet in town.
Sheng vs standard Kiswahili
One of the easiest ways to understand Sheng is to compare it with standard Kiswahili.
Standard Kiswahili is normally preferred in formal writing, schools, official communication, news, professional documents and many public settings.
Sheng is more relaxed and is commonly heard among friends, in informal conversations, entertainment and social media.
For example:
Standard Kiswahili:
Unaendeleaje?
Informal:
Uko aje?
Another example:
Standard Kiswahili:
Ninaelewa.
Informal:
Nimekumake.
Both can communicate a similar idea, but they belong to different styles of communication.
Why does Sheng keep changing?
One reason Sheng remains difficult to define is that it constantly evolves.
Young people create new expressions. English and Kiswahili contribute new words, while words from other Kenyan languages can also enter everyday urban speech.
Social media, music, television, advertising and popular culture can make a new expression spread very quickly.
A word that is popular today may sound old-fashioned a few years later.
This is why learning Sheng is not simply about memorising a fixed dictionary.
Sheng and Kenyan culture
Sheng is more than a collection of slang words. It reflects Kenya’s multilingual and multicultural society.
Its vocabulary demonstrates how speakers move between English, Kiswahili and local languages depending on the situation.
It is particularly important in understanding Kenyan music, comedy, social media conversations, youth culture and informal everyday communication.
For someone learning Kiswahili in Kenya, understanding a little Sheng can also make real-life conversations easier to follow.
Tips for learning Sheng
If you want to understand Kenyan Sheng better, don’t try to memorise hundreds of words at once.
Start by listening to how words are used in context.
Pay attention to:
- Kenyan conversations
- Social-media discussions
- Informal conversations with Kenyan speakers
- Kenyan films and television
- Common everyday expressions
Most importantly, remember that Sheng is informal. A word that sounds natural among friends may not be appropriate in a formal email, job application or official document.