Slang word	Meaning	Origin	Examples	Slang synonyms
nafaka n	ugali porrridge	Synecdochical extension of SS *nafaka 'cereals'.	Nafaka ya leo noma sana. Ugali wa leo mbaya sana.	> dona, dongo, nafaka, nguna, sembe
namba kumi n.phr	umbo la mwanamke mnene kuanzia juu hadi chini shape of a fat woman with flat forms	Metaphorical extension of SS *namba kumi 'number ten' based on form of the number 10. Attested in older Swahili slang with the meaning 'intelligence officer'.	Mwanamke mwenyewe ni wa namba kumi. Mwanamke mwenyewe ana umbo kama namba kumi.
namba nane n.phr	umbo la msichana anayevutia, mwanamke mwenye kiuno chembamba shape of a beautiful girl with wasp waist	Metaphorical extension of SS *namba nane 'number eight' based on form of the number 8.	Mimi napenda wasichana wenye umbo la namba nane. Mimi napenda wasichana wenye kiuno chembamba.
namba sita n.phr	umbo la mtu ambao kwa chini ni mnene na kwa juu ni mwembamba shape of body with fat lower part and slim upper part	Metaphorical extension of SS *namba sita 'number six' based on form of the number 6.
namba tisa n.phr	umbo la mtu ambao kwa chini ni mwembamba na kwa juu ni mnene shape of body with slim lower part and fat upper part	Metaphorical extension of SS *namba tisa 'number nine' based on form of the number 9.
nanii (n v)	neno lisilo na maana na liwezalo kutumika badala ya neno lolote lile, agh. wakati wa kutafuta neno halisi what'sit, thingummy, doo-dah	Probably derived from SS *nani 'who', used as a dummy for any noun or verb. Colloquial, old, and common.
narenare adv	taratibu; kwa uzembe slowly	< ?	Acha kufanya narenare. Acha kufanya [mambo] taratibu.	> ado ado
nari n9	moto kwa ajili ya kuwasha sigara fire to light a cigarette	Metonymic extension of SS *nari 'fire'. In Sheng attested as *nare 'match stick'.	Naomba nari niwashe sigara. Naomba moto niwashe sigara.	> kinari
nata v	ringa kwa kudharauboast by looking down on sth or sb	Dysphemistic metaphorical extension of SS *nata 'stick'.	Mary ananata sana. Mary anaringa sana.
nawa v	petting and fondling	Elliptical metonymic extension of SS *nawa 'wash hands', based on the cultural script of washing hands as a prelude to eating. Since eating metaphorically refers to sexual intercourse, *nawa in this context refers to petting and fondling. In older Swahili slang with opposite meaning *amenawa 'he is clever, he is progressing'.	Unanawa, lakini hutakula! You might touch me, but you will not sleep with me! (spoken by a girl to her lover).
naye adv	safi nice, well	Semantic extension of SS *naye 'with him her'.	Mtihani vipi? - Naye! Mtihani vipi? - Safi!
ndata n5/6	askari (wa polisi) policeman	< ?	Mandata wamembamba. Mapolisi wamemkamata.	> mwela, ndula, njagu
ndina adv	ndani, nyumbani in, inside, at home	Metathesis of SS *ndani 'inside'.	Kesho mimi mwenyewe ndina. Kesho mimi mwenyewe nitakuwepo nyumbani.
ndinga n9/10	gari kubwa, lori big car, lorry	< ? Also attested in Sheng as 'car'.	Oya kamata ndinga hiyo. Oya panda lori hiyo.
ndita n9	hasira, kasirika anger, get angry	< ? Probably ellipsis of SS *kunja ndita 'frown'.	Juma ana ndita kila wakati. Juma anakasirika kila wakati.
ndomu n9/10	kondom condome	Initial truncation of SE 'condome'.		> buti, pilaa, soksi
ndonga n9/10	1. kichwa kikubwa 2. kiatu kikubwa 1. big head 2. big shoe	Metaphorical extension of SS *ndonga 'stick with a round knot on one side'.
nduki n9/10	nyonga kubwa large hips	Initial clipping of LyM "bunduki" 'large hips'.	Yule ana nduki. Yule ana hips kubwa.	> bastola,bunduk, pisto[l], silaha, mvinyo
ndula n9/10/6	polisi police	Metonymic extension of LyM *ndula 'boots'.	Ndula wanakuja kila saa. Mapolisi wanakuja kila saa.	> mwela, ndata, njagu
ndula n	kiatu kikubwa na ya bei ghali kinachopendwa na vijana, hata na wasichana boots, big and expensive shoes, liked by young people, even girls	< ? Also attested in Sheng.	Lorand leo katinga bonge la ndula. Lorand leo kavaa kiatu kikubwa.	> bandapanda, buti, gozi, lakuchumpa, tumba
ndula n	bwege, mjinga, mzembe simpleton, fool, careless person	Metonymic extension of LyM *ndula 'police', motivated by the low level of education of police in former times.	Rafiki yangu usiwe ndula. Rafiki yangu usiwe mjinga.	> boka, mbwiga, poyoyo
ndumilakuwili n	kigeugeu fickle, unstable, wayward person	< ? Onomastic synecdoche of character in cartoon whose name is Ndumilakuwili.	Wewe ni ndumilakuwili tu. Wewe ni kigeugeu tu.
ndumu n9/10	bangi Indian hemp, marijuana; opium	< ?		> kijiti, ganja, mjani, msuba
ndómbolo n	matako makubwa fat buttocks	Metonymy based on a highly eroticised dance style originating in Zaire called "N'Dombolo", in which buttock movements are prominent.		> bambataa, haja kubwa, kibinda, mkundu, shuzi, taarabu, tukunyema, wowowo
nenepa kisimba v.phr	nenepa kwa juu have a big chest	Metaphorical extension of SS *nenepa 'grow fat' and *simba 'lion', based on the form of the lion's body with a broad front.	Mary amenenepa kisimba. Mary amenenepa kifuani.
nesanesa v	yumbayumba have good suspension (car), wave to and fro	Hyperbolic extension of reduplication of SS *nesa 'bend, beat'?	Gari lilikuwa linanesanesa kinoma. Gari lilikuwa linayumbayumba sana.	> yesa
neti n	jela, gereza prison	Metonymic extension of SE 'net', motivated by the fences of screen wire surrounding prisons.		> sero, selo, shimoni, lupango
ngama n	chakula kizuri, ugali nice food, ugali	< ? Obsolete.		> msosi
ngano n9	bia, hasa "Safari Lager" beer, esp. "Safari Lager"	Synecdochical extension of SS *ngano 'wheat'.		> maji ya dhahabu, tungi, ulabu
ngarangara n9/10	kitu kibovu; gari au basi bovu bovu bad, broken thing; worn car or bus	< ?	Achana na ngarangara hizo. Achana na vitu vibovu hivyo.
ng'arisha v.caus	pendezesha, pendeza cause to please, please, look good	Metaphorical extension of derivation of SS *ng'ara 'shine, gleam'.	Yaani umeng'arisha babu. Yaani umependeza.
ngawila n10	fedha, pesa money	< ?	Nipe ngawila zangu. Nipe pesa zangu.	> mapene, mkwanja, uchache
ngenga n9/10	shaka doubt	< ?	Haina ngenga. Haina shaka.
ngeta n9/10	kabari wedge	< ?	Alipigwa ngeta na masela jana. Alipigwa kabari na vijana jana.
ngeukia v	umia be hurt	< ?	Amengeukia! Ameumia!
ngoma n9	1. ukimwi 2. bunduki 3. msichana 1. AIDS 2. gun 3. girl	Metaphorical extension of SS *ngoma 'drum, dance', attested for older Swahili slang with the meanings 'vagina' and 'generative power' (*hana ngoma 'he is impotent'; in *piga ngoma 'copulate', and in *hamna ngoma 'be without a girl (woman)'.	1. Alikufa kwa ngoma. 1. Alikufa kwa ukimwi. 3. Ngoma yangu yule. 3. Msichana wangu yule.	> feruzi, mdudu, minyenyele, miwaya, msaada, ngwengwe, umeme
ng'ombe n9	mtu mwenye pesa anayekabwa na wahuni person who has money and is getting pinned down by hooligans	Dysphemistic metaphorical extension of SS *ng'ombe 'cow, cattle', based on the concept of a cow being milked.	Wana, jana tulikamua ng'ombe. Marafiki, jana tulimtoza pesa mtu mwenye pesa.
ng'ota v	piga, hasa kwa fimbo beat, especially with a stick	< ?		> lamba njiti
ngozi n9/10	1. msichana, mwanamke 2. jinsi 3. kiatu 1. girl, woman 2. jeans 3. shoe	Metonymic extension of SS *ngozi 'skin'. Motivation for 1. Sexual act, where skin meets skin 2. Jeans are like a second skin 3. Shoes are made of skin.	1. Umeiona ngozi ya kutosha babu! 1. Umemwona msichana mzuri, rafiki? 2. Umevaa ngozi mpya? 2. Umevaa jinsi mpya?	> 1. sholi, shori 2. gamba, suru 3. bandapanda, buti, dula, gozi, tumba, lakuchumpa
ngudongudo n10	pesa money	< ?	Oya mshikaji nigee ngudongudo! We, rafiki, nipe pesa!
nguna n9/10	ugali porrridge	< ?	Leo kuna nguna na mandondo. Leo kuna ugali kwa maharage.	> bondo, dona, dongo, sembe
ngurumbili n9/10	mtu, binadamu human being	< ?	Huwezi kumdhibiti ngurumbili. Huwezi kumdhibiti mtu.
ngwengwe n9	ukimwi AIDS	Derived from SS *ngwea 'become thin, emaciated'?	Baba yule ana ngwengwe. Baba yule ana ukimwi.	> feruzi, ngoma, mdudu, minyenyele, miwaya, umeme
ngángari n	kitu au mtu imara tough, strong, brave person, state of being fit	Coinage of party CUF during election campain in 2000; motivation unclear. Popularised by Bongo Flevasong "Ngangari".	Mimi niko ngángari kinoma hapa, njoo tu. Mimi niko hodari sana hapa, njoo tu.	> ngúnguri
ngúnguri n	kitu au mtu imara tough person; strong, brave person	Coinage of Police leader during election campaign in 2000, in response to CUF: Katika uchaguzi uliopita CUF walisema: wakitaka kutudhulumu, sisi ni ngángari. Inspekta jenerali wa polisi akajibu: "Kama mko ngángari, basi sisi tuko ngúnguri."	Baada ya wao kuwa ngangari, manjagu wakawa ngunguri. Baada ya wao kuwa watu wenye msimamo, manjagu wakawa wakali.	> ngángari
nido n5/6	matiti makubwa big breasts	Onomastic synecdoche based on the name of the milk powder "Nido".	Manido yake yamezidi. Matiti yake ni makubwa kupita kiasi.	> mtindi, tikitimaji, balungi
nipa n9	pombe kali haramu, gongo locally and illegally destilled liquor	> ? Attested in older Swahili slang with the meaning 'kind of local beer'. Old.	Anakunywa sana nipa. Anakunywa sana gongo.	> machozi ya simba, maji makali, supu ya mawe
njago, njagu n5/6	polisi, askari police officer	< ? In the presence of policemen the kinyume variety *gonja would be chosen to veil the meaning in a more effective way.	Kinachotukera ni mtindo wa yule njago kukamata watu ovyo. Kinachotukera ni mtindo wa yule askari kukamata watu ovyo.	> kapelo, mwela, ndata, ndula
njemba njemba n.phr	mtu mwenye mwili mkubwa na mwenye nguvu, baunsa, miraba minne big strong man, bouncer	Onomastic synecdoche of Zambian football player Njemba Njemba.	Zikatuibukia njemba njemba flani. Tukakutana na watu fulani wenye miili mikubwa.	> baunsa
njia za panya n.phr	njia zisizo halali unofficial route, unofficial procedure	Metaphorical extension of SS *njia 'way' and *panya 'rat'; expression 'ways of rats'.	Amepata pasipoti kwa njia za panya. Amepata pasipoti kwa njia zisizo halali.
njiapanda ya Ulaya n.phr	barabara kubwa ya kuelekea uwanja wa ndege Dar es Salaam the main road from town to the airport of Dar es Salaam	Antonomastic extension of SS *njiapanda 'crossroads' and *ulaya 'Europe'.
njiti n9/10	fimbo stick	Derivation of *jiti 'big stick'.	Akanilamba njiti sita. Akanipiga fimbo sita.
njoroge n10	fedha za chuma silver money, coins	< ? There might be an etymological link to SS *njugu 'groundnuts' via another Bantu language. Njoroge is also a frequent name in Kenya.	Huyu maza ana njoroge za maandazi. Huyu mama ana pesa za maandazi.
noa v	kosa fail, miss	Metonymic extension of transfer from SE 'no'? Semantic extension of SS *noa ‘sharpen?	Utanoa. Utakosa.
nokolaizi v n	kueleza jambo hata siri, kusemea kwa mkubwa, sengenya, singizia tell secrets, calumniate, slander, snitch on sb	Derivation of LyM *mnoko 'one who gives secrets away', extended by a verbalising suffix *-laize ~ *laizi shaped after the English model, e.g. verba-lise. Rare.	Huyu bloo ni kichomi tena mnokolaize sevuni. This bloke is a pest and a telltale, so avoid him!	> chonga, pakaza
noma n9/10	aibu, soni; balaa, kasheshe, matatizo, hatari bad; shame; trouble	Semantic extension of SS *noma 'working chit (as proof that one was working)' or reduction, fusion and semantic extension of SE 'no, man!'. It is frequently used as a single word utterance for the purpose of saying 'leave it!, stop it!'. Also attested in Sheng.	Du washikaji, hamwoni noma kuvinjari getoni! La jamani, hamwoni aibu kuzunguka chumbani!	> skendo, kasheshe
ntimanyongo n	roho mbaya unkindness	Metonymic extension of *ntima 'heart' (from a Bantu language other than Swahili) plus SS *nyongo 'bile'.		> roho ya korosho, roho ya kwanini
nundu n5	matako makubwa big behind	Dysphemistic metaphorical extension of SS *nundu 'hump'.	Cheki nundu lile. Angalia matako makubwa yale.	> shuzi
nunga embe n.phr	mwanamke ambaye hapati mume, mwanamke asiyeolewa woman who doesn't get a husband	Metaphoric extension of SS *embe 'mango', based on the image of a mango fruit which has fallen from a tree and starts rotting as a worthless thing. The first part of the phraseme might be related to older Swahili slang *nunge 'nil, nothing'.
nunga nanasi n.phr	mvulana asiyepata mke man who doesn't get a wife	Metaphoric extension of SS *nanasi 'pineapple'. First part of phraseme might be related to older Swahili slang *nunge 'nil, nothing'. *Manunga nanasi is a reply to *manunga embe in Bongo Flevamusic. The line is: Wanaume wazuri wazuri wameoa, wamebaki manunga nanasi wanahangaika
nusu kilo n.phr	shilingi 50000 50000 shillings	Semantic extension of SS *nusu 'half' and SE 'kilo'.		> kilo
nusu peponi nusu kuzimu n.phr	hali wanayojisikia watu wanaotumia madawa ya kulevya drug intoxication	Metaphorical expression ''half in heaven, half with the ancestral spirits".	Niko nusu peponi nusu kuzimu. Niko nimelewa madawa.
nyali n10	wali cooked rice	Plural of SS *wali 'cooked rice'. Also attested in older Swahili slang.	Wacha tufinye nyali. Wacha tule wali.	> mavi ya panya, punga, punje, ubeche, ubwabwa
nyambizi n9	1. mwanamke aliyejaaliwa maungo ya nyuma 2. mtu mnene na ameambukizwa na ukimwi 1. lady with big buttocks 2. fat person, attractive and dangerous, because she or he might be infected by AIDS	Dysphemistic metaphorical extension of SS *nyambizi 'submarine'. Since 2001.	Nyambizi yule ana bonge la figa. Mwanamke mnene yule ana umbo mzuri kupita kiasi.	> dege la jeshi, gubeli, jimama, shangingi, tinginya
nyanga n9/10	shilingi 100 100 shillings	< ? Older Swahili slang has *nyang'ule 'money'.		> jiti, nyeto, pini, hais, alasiri, fisi
nyanya puza n.phr	suruali inayoishia chini ya magoti na iliyo pana wide trousers ending below the knees; pant skirt	< ? Metaphorical extension of SS *nyanya 'tomato' seems to be involved.		> pensi nyanya
nyanyapaa v	tenga, nyanyasa, epuka mtu kwa dharau (hasa mwenye ukimwi) avoid, stigmatise sb (especially AIDS patients)	Metaphoric extension of SS *nyanya 'cause to be prominent, protrude, put out, raise up' and SS *paa 'roof of hut' or blend with SS *nyapa 'stalk after, creep after' or SS *nyanyasa 'treat disrespectfully'?
nyasi n9/10	bangi weed, grass	Calque of English slang *grass: SS *nyasi 'grass'.	Juma ameshakula nyasi yake. Juma ameshavuta bangi yake.	> blant
nyea debe v.phr	wekwa jela be in prison	Metonymic extension of SS *kunya 'shit' and *debe 'tin'; expression 'shit in the tin'.	Mshikaji amenyea debe saa hizi. Mwenzetu yuko jela sasa.	> swekwa lupango
nyemka v	kosea err	< ?		> chemka, tokota
nyento n9/10	sarafu ya shilingi 100 coin of 100 TSh.	?. Especially used by daladala personnel.	Nipige nyento. Nipe shilingi 100.	> alasiri, bati, doma, hais, jiti, nyanga, pini
nyenyere, nyenyele n10	virusi za ukimwi HIV-Viruses	Metaphorical extension of SS *nyenyere 'tiny black ant'	Angalia usije ukavamie nyenyere. Angalia usije ukapate (virusi vya ) ukimwi.	> mdudu, minyenyele, miwaya, msaada, ngoma, nyenyere, umeme
nyoka n9	1. msaidizi wa kazi katika mgodi 2. mtu anayefanya kazi ya kibarua na katika sehemu ya kazi hiyo yeye ni mgeni na wa cheo cha chini kabisa 1. unofficial worker who helps in mines 2. labourer who is new in a certain unofficial work-place	Metaphorical dysphemistic extension of SS *nyoka 'snake'. The term started to be used in mines, where those people dig in the deepest parts. From there the concept was transferred to any work, but especially daladala buses.	Nyoka wangu msanii. Nyoka wangu mbabaishaji.	> deiwaka
nyola n9/10	ukimwi AIDS	< ?	Ana nyola yule. Ana ukimwi yule.	> mdudu, ngoma
nyomi n9/10	shilingi 50 50 shillings	< ?
nyomi n9	wingi plentiness	Modification of SS *nomi 'abundance'.	Kituoni tulikuwa watu nyomi. Kituoni tulikuwa watu wengi.	> lumbesa, shazi
nyonyo n5/6	maziwa makubwa big breasts	Dysphemisitc metonymic extension of SS *nyonya 'suck'.	Yule ana manyonyo. Yule ana maziwa makubwa.	> balungi, tikitimaji, mtindi, nido
nyunyu n5	harufu ya bangi scent of a joint	Euphemisitc extension of SS *nyunyu 'drizzle'.	Hili nyunyu mh! Hii harufu ya bangi ni nzuri.
nyuti v	tulia calm down, settle down	Derivation from SS *nyuti ‘slowly, carefully’.	Juma amenyuti. Juma ametulia.	> bana, egesha