“I’d love to speak another language, but…” Enough with the excuses today am going teach you 7 easy, funny and most commonly used Kenya's Sheng slang.

The word Sheng is actually derived from two main languages: SwaHili and ENGlish, the specific letters were merged to form the famous'SHENG' name. Though sheng has recently become so popular it actually originated in the 1950's in Nairobi's city slum commonly known Eastleigh short for Eastlands or 'Easich' in Sheng

Most sheng words are majorly borrowed from the Swahili and English words, also from Kenyan ethnic groups including the Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba and Luhya. Like all slang, Sheng is mainly used by the youth and is part of popular culture in Kenya. It also evolves rapidly, as words are moved into and out of slang use.

Sheng vocabulary can vary significantly within Kenya's various subdivisions and the larger African Great Lakes region, and even between neighbourhoods in Nairobi. Many youths living in the capital often use the argot as their everyday mode of communication rather than Swahili or English. In other words, Sheng can be considered as the modern day Swahili Language.

Below is my list of the seven most common used Kenyan slangs and their meanings, other Sheng words related to them and examples in a sentence

1. Ndai

Refers to car
Other slang words include:-
Ndinga, moti

e.g

Iko wapi moti? - Where is the car?

2. Chapaa

Refers to money
Other words include:-
Doh, mkwanja, ganji, cheddar

e.g

Nipe mkwanja - give me money
Sina ganji - I don't have money

3. Dame

Refers to a girl or a chick
Other related words include:-
Msupa, mresh, shore, manzi

e.g

Msupa wako yuko area - Your chick is around

4. Mburungo

Refers to cargo

e.g

Wapi mburungo za me? - where are my cargos?
'me' refers to mine

5. Matha

Refers to mother, its pronunciation is borrowed from the English word
Other related words include:-
Mathe, masa

e.g

Mathe anakuita - Mom is asking for you

6. Sasa / Niaje

In sheng it is used as greetings, mostly as a way of saying 'How are you?'
You can also use 'Niaje'

e.g

Niaje buda? - How are you, man?
It is often replied by 'Poa' or 'Fiti', meaning 'Good' or 'Ok'

7. Sonko

The term refers to a rich person. On another circumstance it can be used to refer to a boss, mostly you can refer to your employer as sonko and not necesaryy because he or she is rich.
Other related Sheng word to use is : Mdosi

e.g

Sonko wangu amego tao - My boss has gone to town
Yule msee ni Sonko - That guy is rich

Former president of USA Barack Obama while in Kenya spoke Sheng 'Niaje wasee, hawayuni, jambo'. Checkout below !!!!!

You can let me know what your favourite Sheng slang was by commenting below or upvote to show the love. ENJOY!!!!!