| Slang word | Meaning | Origin | Examples | Slang synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -a kidosi adj | -a uhakika sure, rich, certain |
Derivation from LyM *mdosi 'rich man, Indian, European' |
Mambo yake ya kidosi. Mambo yake ni ya uhakika. |
> mdosi |
| -a kufa mtu n.phr | mno, kupita kiasi very much, exceedingly, terribly |
Hyperbolic extension of SS *kufa 'die' plus *mtu 'person'. | Jana tulipiga keroro ya kufa mtu Jana tulikunywa pombe kupita kiasi. |
> ile mbaya, kichizi, kinoma, kishenzi, kwa kwenda mbele |
| -a nguvu n.phr | zuri sana, kubwa sana, ghali very nice, very big, expensive |
Expression meaning 'of strength'. | Demu ametilia kijasti cha nguvu. Msichana amevaa nguo ndogo yenye gharama. |
> kwa kwenda mbele, -a kufa mtu |
| adabu tupu n.phr | kitu kizuri kisicho kawaida good thing which is unusual |
Metaphorical expression: "naked good manners". | Simu ya mshikaji huyu adabu tupu, ina mpaka TV. This friend's phone is very nice, it's even got TV. |
|
| acha kwenye mataa v.phr | kumwacha mtu kwenye mshangao; kumpa mtu ahadi bila kutimiza give incomplete instructions, stand sb up, leave in the dark, leave in the lurch |
Metaphorical expression: "leave at the traffic lights". | Huyakata mawasiliano na kumwacha msichana kwenye mataa. Huyakata mawasiliano na kumwacha msichana asijue la kufanya. |
|
| achia mistari v.phr | imba nyimbo za Bongo Fleva rap verses |
Metaphorical expression: "release lines". | Aliachia mistari ya traki yake. Aliimba sehemu za wimbo wake. |
> chana mistari, dondosha mistari, mitindo huru |
| ado ado adv, n | 1. pole pole 2. kidogo 1. slowly 2. a little |
< ? | 1. Twende zetu Kariakoo ado ado. 1. Lets go slowly to Kariakoo. 2. Nimechukua ado ado tu. 2. I have taken only a little bit. |
> narenare |
| akademiki buzi n.phr | mwanamume anayetumika na msichana kwa kumfanyia kazi za shule man who is used by a girl to help her with academic work in exchange for a sexual relationship |
Transfer from SE 'academic' plus LyM *buzi; metaphorical expression with dysphemistic flavour: "academic goat." Used at university campus. |
Asha ana akademiki buzi. Asha ana mwanamume ambaye anamsaidia katika kazi za shule. | |
| alasiri n | 100 TSh 100 TSh |
Double metonymic semantic extension of SS *alasiri 'afternoon' > 'afternoon newspaper Alasiri, which costs 100 | Hilo embe bei gani? - Alasiri. Hilo embe bei gani? - Shilingi mia moja. | > jiti, nyeto, pini, hais |
| alora adj, adv | nzuri well, good |
Transfer from Italian 'alora'. Not common. | Hali? - Alora! Hali? - Nzuri! |
|
| antena n | Sikio ear |
Dysphemistic and hyperbolic metaphorical extension of SE 'antenna'. | Umejuaje? - Antena yangu imekamata hilo. Umejuaje? - Nimesikia ulilolisema. | |
| anti n9 | 1. ita mwanamke 2. ita msenge 3. msichana mzuri 1. address of a woman 2. address of homosexual man 3. beautiful girl |
Semantic extension of transfer from SE 'aunt', replacing SS *shangazi 'aunt' in certain contexts. Also attested for Sheng. | Hallo anti, nina shida kidogo na wewe. Hallo dada, nina shida kidogo na wewe. |
> sista, bwabwa, chakula, choko, kaka poa, mshumaa |
| -anza v | ondoka make off, go |
Ellipsis of SS *anza safari 'start journey'. | Anza, bwana! Toka hapa, bwana! |
> ambaa, chomoa, ishia, jikata, jisanzua, kipa, kula kona, lala mbele, tambaa, timka, timua, toa kiwingu, yeya |
| apeche alolo adj, n? | ishiwa pesa, kosa pesa bankrupt, broke |
< ? Attested in older Swahili slang as *apecha alolo 'penniless, broke' *Arosto is now more in fashion. |
Nipo apeche alolo. Nimeishiwa pesa. |
> arosto, chalala, mabaga, majalala, waka |
| arosto, rosto n | ishiwa pesa, kosa pesa bankrupt, broke |
< ? Attested in variations ranging from *arosto alosto to *rosto losto. Probably derived from Sheng *lostia 'get lost'. | Niko rosto kweli. Nimeishiwa hela kweli. |
> rosti |
| asali wa moyo n.phr | mpenzi wa kike au wa kiume girlfriend, boyfriend |
Metaphorical extension of SS *asali 'honey' plus *moyo 'heart', which is also reflected in the transfer of *asali from class 9 to class 1. Popularised by Bongo Fleva song "Asali wa moyo" | Karibu chakula asali wangu wa moyo. Karibu chakula mpenzi wangu. |
> laazizi |
| ATM n.phr | mwanamme anayetoa pesa ovyo kwa wanawake man who spends money any way on women |
Metaphorical expression: "Automated Teller Machine". | Usishindane naye, jamaa ATM ; anagawa pesa kwa mabinti kama njugu. Don't compete with this guy ATM ; he distributes money to the girls like peanuts. |