Slang word	Meaning	Origin	Examples	Slang synonyms
taahira n9/10	mtu aliyepumbaa akili mad person, lunatic	Metonymic extension of SS *taahira 'postponement, delay'?
taifisha v.caus	iba, chukua kitu kwa mtu au watu, dai kuwa mwenyewe steal, take sth away from so, claim to be owner of sth	Metonymic and euphemistic semantic extension of SS *taifisha 'nationalise'	Ameitaifisha. He took it as his.
taiti v	bana force, press, fit tightly	Transfer from SE ' tight'.	Alivaa fulana nyeusi iliyomtaiti. Alivaa fulani nyeusi iliyombana.
taiti adj	safi nice	Transfer of SE 'tight', or 'tidy'?	Juma alikuwa taiti jana. Juma alikuwa safi jana.	> smati
taiti n9/10	sketi fupi inayobana matako tightly fitting miniskirt	Transfer from SE 'tight'.	Yule amevaa taiti. Yule amevaa sketi fupi ya kubana matako.
tambaa v	ondoka go, go away	Metonymic extension of SS *tambaa 'crawl'.	Tuliona wanatuyeyusha tukawaambia watambae. Tuliona wanatudanganya tukawaambia waondoke.	> anza, chomoa, ishia, jikata, jisanzua, kipa, timka, timua, toa kiwingu
tantarila n9/10	maneno mengi yasiyo na busara a lot of words without meaning	Probably semantic extension of name of Reggae song "tantarilla" by Don One Crew on Album "Watch the ride" (1998).	Acha tantarila zako we kinabo. Acha maneno yako yasiyo na busara, we mshamba.
tapeli n5/6	mtu anayelaghai watu ili awadhulumu mali au haki zao swindler	Transfer from French *tapeur 'cadger'. Popularised through song by Vijana Jazz Band "Ogopa matapeli", in the late 1980s.		> msanii
tapeli v	laghai, iba kwa kulaghai swindle, steal by swindling	Transfer from French *tapeur 'cadger'.	Ametapeliwa. Ameibiwa na tapeli.
taraa numeral	tatu three	< ?. Obsolete.	Nipe sigara taraa. Nipe sigara tatu.	> bee, dala
taarabu n9/10	matako makubwa ya mwanamke woman's behind, big buttocks, fat bottom	Metonymic extension of SS *taarabu?, based on dance movements.	Manzi huyu ana taarabu. Msichana mdogo huyu ana matako makubwa.	> bambataa, haja kubwa, mkundu, ndómbolo, shuzi, tukunyema, wowowo
tarakishi n5/6	kompyuta computer	< ?
techele disc	poa, safi good	< ? Used as a standard reply to greetings such as *hali vipi.
tega v	tamanisha seduce	Metaphorical extension of SS *tega 'trap'.	Acha kunitega wewe demu. Acha kunitamanisha kwa ngono, wewe msichana.
tega antena v.phr	sikiliza kwa makini listen attentively	Metaphoric extension of SS *tega 'set ready' plus SE 'antenna'.		> tega chaneli
tega chaneli v.phr	sikiliza kwa makini listen attentively	Metaphoric extension of SS *tega 'set ready' plus transfer of SE 'channel'.	Mbona ametega chaneli. Mbona anasikiliza, anajaribu kusikia tunayoyazungumzia.	> tega antena
tega neti v.phr	vizia, tegea waylay, ambush	Metaphorical extension 'set a net-trap'.	Nilimtegea demu neti akaingia mwenyewe. Nilimfuatilia demu bila yeye kujua, nikafanikiwa.
teja n5/6	mtu anayetumia sana madawa ya kulevya drug addict	Hyperbolic extension of augmentative of SS *mteja 'customer'.
tema v	toa give out	Metaphorical extesion of SS *tema 'spit'.	Biashara imetema kichizi. Biashara imetoa faida nyingi sana.
tema mkwanja v.phr	toa pesa kwa kulazimishwa give away money	Metaphorical extension of SS *tema 'spit out' plus LyM *mkwanja 'money'.	Aliutema mkwanja wako? Alitoa pesa zako?
tema ngeli v.phr	sema Kiingereza speak English	Metaphorical extension of SS *tema 'spit' and metonymic extension of *ngeli 'noun class' (which is used for the meaning of 'correct grammar'),	Anatema ngeli. Anasema Kiingereza.	> bonga ung’eng’e, ingia external
tema sumu v.phr	chongea, tilia fitina, ponza discredit	Metaphorical expression "spit poison".	Ametema sumu kwa bosi nikafukuzwa kazi. Amenichongea kwa bosi, nikafukuzwa kazi.
tema ung'eng'e v.phr	sema Kiingereza speak English	Metaphorical extension of SS *tema 'spit' and metonymic extension of LyM *ung'eng'e 'English'.	Anatema ung’eng’e. Anasema Kiingereza.	> bonga ung’eng’e, ingia external, tema ngeli
tenga n5/6	noti ya shilingi 1000 note of 1000 TSh.	Semantic extension of SS *tenga 'net, crate' based on the notion that one can pack many things in it, as one can buy many things with 1000 TSh.		> baba wa taifa, buku
tenge n5/6	kitenge printed cotton wrap-cloth	Augmentative derivation of SS *kitenge?	Naona umetinga tenge la mchonga. Naona umevaa kitenge cha [kumkumbuka] rais Nyerere.
tesa v	ona raha sana, starehe kupita kiasi, faidi enjoy very much, enjoy life; ace, do something expertly and completely, profit	Hyperbolic dysphemistic extension of SS *tesa 'afflict trouble or pain', probably based on ironical usage.	Nilitesa mtihani huo! Kila jibu lilikuwa sahihi! I aced that exam! Every answer was correct!
tetrasaiklini n	rangi mbili, e.g. gari la polisi au mwanamke ambaye ngozi yake ni ya rangi tofauti kutokana na kutumia dawa ya kuchubua ngozi two colours, e.g. police car or woman whose skin has become speckled because of the use of bleach cream	Metonymic transfer of SE 'tetracycline' (name of an antibioticum), motivation: capsules are of two colours.	Mshikaji aliona tetrasaiklini baada ya kupigwa ngumi mbili tu. Rafiki aliona rangi mbili baada ya kupigwa ngumi mbili tu.
tia v	tomba, fanya mapenzi copulate, make love	Metonymic extension of SS *tia 'put into'. Attested in older Swahili slang in the expression *tia mande 'sleep with a woman'.	2. Janet jana ametiwa. 2. Janet jana alifanyiwa mapenzi.	> piga bao, tia
tia timu v.phr	fika, ingia arrive	Metaphorical extension of SS *tia 'put' plus SS *timu 'team'.	Kapelo zitatia timu. Mapolisi watakuja.
tiki v	kuwa zuri, tokuwa na matatizo be o.k.	Transfer from SE 'tick'.	Kama mambo yanatiki, tuyese zetu. Kama mambo ni mazuri, twende zetu.	> jibu, jipa, kaa freshi
tikitimaji n5/6	ziwa kubwa big female breast	Metaphoric extension of SS *tikitimaji 'water melon'.		> balungi, tikitimaji
timba v	ingia enter	< ?	Deile mi' natimba skani. Kila siku mimi naingia kijiweni.
timbwanga v	wasili arrive at	< ?	Nitatimbwanga saa tano kafeteria. Nitawasili saa tano kafeteria.
timori v	piga beat up	Onomastic synecdoche of the geographical term Timor which became emblematic as an area of conflict, combat and war in the late nineties during the East Timor crisis.	Nitakutimori. Nitakupiga.	> klintoni, kosovo
timua [mbio] v	ondoka haraka make off, run away	Metonymic extension of SS *timua 'cause to leave abruptly'. Very common. Also attested in older Swahili slang with meaning 'leave a place (in hurry)'.	Washikaji tutimue! Marafiki, tuondoke!	> chomoa, ishia, toa kiwingu
tinga v	1. vaa, vaa vizuri 2. kaa 3. ingia 1. wear, wear nice clothes 2. sit 3. enter	Metonymic extension of SS *tinga 'shake, vibrate; defeat'; attested in older Swahili slang for the meaning 'make love' with meaning 'sit without thinking of leaving soon'.	1. Naona umetinga tenge la mchonga. 1. Naona umevaa kitenge cha Mwl. Nyerere. 2. Ametinga kijiweni. 2. Amekaa sana kijiweni. 3. Ametinga ndani. 3. Ameingia ndani.
tinginya n5/6	1. mwanamke aliyejaaliwa maungo ya nyuma 2. matako makubwa 1. lady with a big behind 2. big behind	< ?	3. Nimekutana na dada, amejaza tinginya. 3. Nimekutana na dada aliye na matako makubwa.	> nyambizi, jimama
tintedi adj	kuwa katika hali ya kulewa, kutokana na pombe au madawa be drunk	Transfer from SE 'tinted', referring to tinted windows in cars. Cognitive motivation: one sees everything as through tinted windows.	Mbona unaonekana kama umevaa tintedi. Mbona unaonekana kama umelewa.	> jicho la tatu
tivi n5/6	miwani myeusi, miwani ya jua sunglasses	Metaphoric extension of SE 'TV'.	> macho manne
tizediara n	gari ya polisi police car	Metonymic extension based on the acronym derived from the plate number "TZR" of police.	Hakuna mambo ya kapelo wala tizediara. Hakuna mambo ya polisi wala magari ya polisi.
toa boko v.phr	ruhusu makosa hasa katika soka (referii) allow errors, esp. in football (referee)	Metaphorical extension of SS *toa 'give out' plus augmentative of SS *kiboko 'whip'.	Ehe! Umetoa boko babu. Ehe! Umeruhusu kosa lililopelekea kufungwa.
tokea v	tongoza seduce, flirt	Semantic extension of SS *tokea 'appear'.	Amemtokea. Amemtongoza.
tokota v	kosea make a mistake	Metaphorical extension of SS *tokota 'boil very much, become boiled'.	Umetokota usingemwambia. Umekosea usingemwambia.	> chemka, nyemka
tokotesha v.caus	toa jasho nyingi bila mafanikio do something in vain, invest much effort without any result, struggle to no avail	Derivation from LyM *tokota 'make a mistake'.
Tomoro / tumoro adv	kesho tomorrow	Transfer of SE 'tomorrow'.	Sasa tomorrow nakwea pipa kwenda majuu. Sasa kesho napanda ndege kwenda ulaya.
tonya v	eleza, julisha, pasha habari explain	< ? Very common.	Sasa, washikaji, mnanitonya vipi kuhusu dili hili? Sasa, marafiki, mnanieleza vipi kuhusu jambo hili?
tosa v	telekeza abandon	Metaphoric extension of SS *tosa 'plunge in water, throw into the sea'.	Nimemtosa rafiki yangu vibaya. Nimemwacha rafiki yangu kwenye mataa.	> acha kwenye mataa
totopaki n	kiasi kidogo cha konyagi katika mfuko wa plastiki poly bag package of konyagi			> kiroba
totoz n10	wasichana wazuri; watoto beautiful girls; children	Hybridisation of SS noun stem -toto plus SE plural suffix -s. In older Swahili slang *toto shoo 'beautiful lady, lovely girl' and *toto shuweya 'desirable woman'.	Totoz za jana yaani shwari. Wasichana tuliokuwa nao jana ni wazuri.
tovuti n	mahali katika kompyuta iliyounganishwa kwenye mtandao. website	< ? Official.
tozi n5/6	mtu anayejisikia fly guy	Initial truncation of LyM *bitozi.		> bitozi
traki n9/10	wimbo kwenye CD song, track on CD	Metonymic extension of transfer from SE 'track' (on CD).	Mwana nimesafiri humo na hilo traki. Rafiki nimeimba kwa mtiririko katika wimbo.
trausa n	suruali trousers	Transfer from SE 'trousers'.
tukunyema n	matako makubwa, mwili mkubwa big buttocks	Onomastic synecdoche of the style of music of the band "MK Beats", which existed in the 90s. When their music was played people used to danse and call out "Tukunyema mpaka chini - wowo".	Yule mama ana tukunyema kweli. Yule mama ana matako makubwa kweli.	> bambataa, haja kubwa, kibinda, mkundu, ndómbolo, taarabu, shuzi, wowowo
tulianzisheni v.phr	tuondoke na kuanzisha ugomvi (wakati wa kutaka kupigana) let's go and start quarreling	Semantic extension of SS *anzisha 'start, set in motion'. "Let's go and start it!". Reference of object marker -li could be to *jambo 'matter' ?	Kama mnataka kupigana, unasema: "tulianzisheni". Kama mnataka kupigana, unasema: "twende tukaanze ugomvi".
tuliza boli v.phr	subiri, tulia be patient, pacify, settle	Semantic extension of SS *tuliza 'calm sth' plus transfer from SE 'ball'.	Tuliza boli, kichaa wangu, mambo chelae pina. Subiri rafiki yangu, mambo mazuri sana.	> tuliza kipago
tumba n5	kiatu kizuri na kikubwa, lakini mtumba big second-hand shoe	Metonymic extension of SS *tumba 'outer case, cover', or metonymic extension of augmentative based on SS *mtumba 'imported second hand clothes'		> bandapanda, buti, dula, gozi, lakuchumpa
tumbo joto n.phr	kuwa na wasiwasi be afraid to fail	Metaphorical extension of SS *tumbo 'belly' and *joto 'heat'.	Viongozi wakongwe wa CCM wanaougombea ubunge wapo tumbo joto. Viongozi wakongwe wa CCM wanaougombea ubunge wana wasiwasi.
tungi n	pombe beer, alcoholic drink	Metonymic extension of SS *tungi 'big earthen jar'. Attested in older Swahili slang as *mtungi 'beer'.	Twende tukapate tungi kiaina. Twende tukanywe pombe pembeni.	> mitungi, ulabu
tutusa n5/6	mtu ambaye hawezi kufikiria au kuongea; mtu ambaye hana akili blockhead	Metaphorical extension of SS *tutusa 'grope (for something), feel one's way'?	Wanafunzi wao ni matutusa. Wanafunzi wao hawana akili.
twanga pepeta v.phr n	simu ya mkononi, aina ya Siemens c25 mobile phone model Siemens c25	Onomastic synecdoche based on the name of the music band "Twanga Pepeta" which in itself is a metonymic extension of SS *twanga 'pound in a mortar' and *pepeta 'winnow, sift', probably based on the body movement in dancing.