Sheng slang

Last updated

Sheng
Native to Kenya
Language codes
ISO 639-3 (a proposal to use shf was rejected in 2017 [1] )
Glottolog None
G.40E [2]

Sheng is primarily a Swahili and English-based cant, perhaps a mixed language or creole, originating among the urban youth of Nairobi, Kenya, and influenced by many of the languages spoken there. While primarily a language of urban youths, it has spread across social classes and geographically to neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda.

Contents

Etymology and history

The word "Sheng" is coined from the two languages that it is mainly derived from: Swahili and English. The "h" was included from the middle of "Swahili" because "Seng" would have sounded unusual. The term is first recorded in 1965. [3]

Originating in the early 1950s in the Eastlands area of Nairobi (variously described as a "slum", "ghetto" or "suburb"), Sheng is now heard among matatu drivers/touts across the region, and in the popular media. Most of the Sheng words are introduced in various communities and schools and given wide exposure by music artists who include them in their lyrics, hence the rapid growth. It can be assumed to be the first language of many Kenyans in urban areas.

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. It found broad usage among hip hop artists such as Kalamashaka and G.rongi in the African Great Lakes region in the '90s, both mainstream and "underground" (whose music helped spread the language and contribute to rapid changes or shifts in Sheng vocabulary), as well as among virtually all university and secondary-school students, the language was not always associated with people who cannot do much for the society until when the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation noted the rise in both class and diversity. Radio presenters John Karani, Jeff Mwangemi and Prince Otach, and many more, took it to the mainstream by presenting the first radio shows using Sheng phrases on the national broadcast. By 2010 almost every media show had some sort of sheng it.

Although the grammar, syntax, and much of the vocabulary are drawn from Swahili, Sheng borrows from the languages of some of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya, including Luhya, Gĩkũyũ, Luo and Kamba. Words are also borrowed from languages that are neither a local language nor English – such as the Sheng word morgen "morning" – a Sheng word used in some areas with a similar meaning in German.

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

Many Gen Z and Millennials easily adapt to other variants of Sheng like Shembeteng, Shengilo and Shengtezo.

The use of social media platforms like TikTok have contributed to the growth of Sheng.

[4] [5]

Sheng in literature

The written use of Sheng in literature is still a minor phenomenon. Some poems in the African literary magazine Kwani? have been published in Sheng, but the first and only book in this language is "Lafudhi hip hop poetry in Sheng" (2015), written by G rongi.

Sample vocabulary

ShengEnglish (definition)
nyukacane
dungawear
ngashashower
kugurato leave, to vacate premises
boyafool
idhatime
mnati, ras Rastafarian
babi, barbieperson who doesn't speak Sheng, person from a wealthy background
Ngori, nomatrouble
bonga (bong-gah), Roroa, zoza, banja, tematalk
bonga mavi talk smack
saksuasearch
parafamily
digagaspectacle
sepago away, flee
setokarepresent
mbwaknijumpy
perembainterrogate
daiwant, view
dungia (doong-gi-ah), gawia, chapia, vutiahit up (call someone)
apantambuano respect to that (don't recognize that)
riba, zabestory
sererekahave fun
dema, dimbuaeat
pack, sticklive (somewhere)
ndeng'a, thwau, bunde, mchuma, mtoo, ridhe, fee, tokagun, firearm
keroma, demofood
chapaa, munde, mundez, niado, ganji, doe, keroma, cheddar/chedaz, dau, mkwanja, makwarkwar, chengmoney
so, kioo, exsoo, red, osone hundred shillings
finje, chuani, pachas, hamusini, nichfifty shillings
mbao, blue, mbalutwenty shillings
ashuu, shoe, kindee, ikongo, das, tejaten shillings
waibuy
ngovo, kobole, guokofive shillings
rwabe, doso, jilltwo hundred shillings
punch, jirongofive hundred shillings
thao, jii (like the letter G), kapaa, ngiri, ngwanye, ndovu, azar, K, muti, brambaone thousand shillings
fala, mwere (mweh-reh), dwanzi, zuzustupid person, idiot
ocha, moshatha, shaggzup country, rural home/area
liet, noma, niku hatata, wa gwanin a mess, trouble
ConteTough person
Oposh, momo, fatso, bazuFat person
1 GBSkinny person
njevecold
ingiza njeve, gwaya, buyaget scared, be afraid, chicken out
Kanjocity/town council officer
chapo chapati
ngodhaunderpants
msee, mzing' kizee, mdhii, mguys, mzeiya, mtunguyaz, mzaee, morioguy, dude
dame, mresh, supuu, msupa, manzi, shore (sho-reh; from "shawty"), msusu, mroro, mshee, totoh, yeng, mdenge, nyegz, ngusgirl, chick
buda, mzae, arinzu, mzingfather
gweng, gwanhard (difficult)
zii, nada, do, nahno
mathree, mat, jive, jav, buu, nganya matatu
ngwai, Tire (Tea-Reh), kithuke, vela, ndom, aroma, shashi, kenti, mashashola, kindukulu, shadabhang, marijuana
msuditraitor, snitch
deree, kigonyi, vanderedriver
konkodi, makanga, manumber, dondabus/matatu conductor
fegi, mozo, ngale, fuakacigarette
mzaemale parent
karao, gova, sanse, beast, afande, govapolice
keja, hao, mbanyu, base, digs, guba, ndakihouse, home
matha, mathe, mthama, masa, mondhreswoman, mother
mboch, chinebohousegirl (maid)
mbota, wochiwatch
mbwenya, jako, blazercoat
dhafu, githafu,madhafu, mao Mathematics
mdosi, sonko, sos, penki, donga, bombay, bola, Okwonkwo, delaRich person
msoto, mbleina, sufferer, hustlerpoor person
sota, kauka, chuprigo bankrupt/become poor
bie, B.Agood
mzing, fathe, mbuyu, buda, arinzu,dad
masa, mathe, mnyaka, mokoro, moda, mthama, mondhresmum
ogaan individual from Nigeria
ndauoan individual with

Maasai descent

mngosoan individual with English descent
Mchinkuan individual with Chinese descent
Gakian individual belonging to Kisii community
msapere, mkiuk, okuyuan individual belonging to Kenya's Kikuyu ethnic community or generally Bantu
Mkao, mcambodia, mndulian individual belonging to Kenya's Kamba ethnic community
mjaka, mjaze, mjaksusan individual belonging to Kenya's Luo ethnic community
mgirishan individual belonging to Kenya's Giriama people ethnic community
mlunjean individual belonging to Kenya's Luhya ethnic community
mkalean individual belonging to Kenya's Kalenjin ethnic community
Arges, walalo, oriaan individual belonging to Kenya's Somali ethnic community
Kaseea male person from the Kamba ethnic community of Kenya
Baite(pronounced vaite)a male person from the Meru ethnic community of Kenya
Muraaa male person from the Kuria ethnic community of Kenya
nare (nah-reh)fire, matches
ndai, moti, murenga, dingacar
ngata (ng-gah-tah), ngede (ng-geh-deh), irorifuel
nguenos, ngwex, mwewe, ngwetes, ngokoschicken
rodhitrouser
njumu, njuti, ndula, magwanda, manduleng', chujashoes
poa, wazi, wabe, fiti, chonjocool
ubao, maunenge, kidalehunger
mbokacity
uaganisnonsense
veve, mbachu, shamba, mogoka, jaba miraa
kuber (koo-beh-r), kubz, doze, mungich, mungiki(chewing) tobacco
mburungocargo
chapa, donje, kiatu, forbes, kiraka, kubeatugly
fyatcrazy

Teo Exams -

chipo, chibaz, njiva, vanga chips
fika, ishia, jikata, sepato go somewhere
kirindi, mbogicrowd
earthwireneck tie
nyondebird
dushdove/pigeon
mavi, mafi, shonde, shoi, shostefaeces
showerbath
mode (moh-day), odijoteacher
mboka, mtaacity, town, streets, neighbourhood
chuompathway
omoka, kukafunga,be rich
mzii/nomatough/bad
majuu, mayolo, chambele, farovaWestern world/overseas
mlami, myurowhite person, Caucasian person
mtiaji, msororaji, mrazia cunning person, tattletale
kauzi, thegi, gondi, dingo, obe (ob), gwangithief, thug, mugger, burglar
masaa, githaatime
mshikaji, bf, gfboyfriend/girlfriend
pasuka, rarukalaugh
karokota, doze, kufinyilia, kutunatake a nap, sleep
nyaku, waka, washa, gwezere, malaga,drink (alcohol)
kalesa, pace, tembezawalk a distance
teialcohol
tenje, mtamboRadio/ music system or a phone
Nangos, digitzNumber
N.B. Words in brackets in the Sheng column show how the word is pronounced.

Examples

ShengStandard Kiswahili (translation)Standard English (translation)
Umekemba gazo, radar ni fom zimekalas hadi msoto imeramba mayenx viudu.Imechapishwa magazetini ya kwamba ukosefu Wa kazi imeathiri vijana kiafya ya akiliThe newspapers asserts that joblessness has affected the youth's mental health.
Muokalaiz nikupeleke na mtara za gishagiKaribia nikufunze jinsi ya kuishi huku nyumbaniCome let me show you how to survive here.
Uyo Arif ako na za ovyoHuyo rafiki yako anapenda mzaha.Your friend likes jokes!
Sepa hii daro juu odijo akimuok, kutatee!Toka humu darasani maana mwalimu akija atakuadhibu!.Flee from this class because when the teacher comes you'll be punished!
Gura hiyo chuom, madingo watakuchai.!Koma kupita hiyo njia wezi wapo hapo, watakuibiaAvoid that path it's laden with thugs who'll steal from you.!
Tangu Kama akanjwe anajiskia skari, sana!Kama alipo pata pesa, alianza kuringaAfter receiving some money Kama became boastful!
Amulia hata dhenga ya nich nijipin, niko kidale, mzing!Ninunulie githeri ya hamsini tafadhali nile nina njaaCould you spot me fifty shillings to buy a meal? (a specific meal of boiled maize and beans is mentioned but the actual meaning is the price of what is considered the cheapest item in a food kiosk)
Huu msee ni fala!Huyu mtu ni mjinga.This guy's an idiot!
Si unidungie chuani?Unaeza nipa shilingi hamsini?Can you please give me fifty shillings?
Acha kubonga mavi mdhii.Acha kuongea vibaya, kaka.Stop talking smack, brother.
Udingo ndio maana magidha ako ndani, riba ni alichai Doo ya govaUfisadi ndio chanzo ya kushtakiwa kwake, mda wote yupo kizimbani Kwa mashtaka ya wizi wa pesa za serikaliCorruption is the main reason he is in and out of the courts for allegations of embezzlement of government's money"
Ukivuta fegi utajiletea noma.Ukivuta sigara utajiletea shida.If you smoke cigarettes you'll get yourself in trouble.
Ule dame amechapa!Yule msichana ana sura mbaya.That girl is ugly!
Maisha ni gweng bana.Maisha ni ngumu kaka.Life is hard man.
Kuja utugawie hizi njiva.Kuja utugawie hivi vibanzi.Come and share your fries with us.
Budake alishikwa na makarao.Babake alikamatwa na polisi.His dad was caught by the police.
Aliibiwa mbota na mboch.Aliibiwa saa na mjakazi.His watch was stolen by his housegirl.
Aliona magondi akaingiza njeve.Aliona mhuni akahisi woga.He got scared when he saw some thugs.
Niko mbioni. Niko na haraka. I am in a hurry.
Budake ni mzii.Babake ni mkali.His father is tough/bad.
Walibambwa Na masanse, wakikwaria gova kuchocha.Walitiwa kizimbani baada ya kulalamikia bei ya vitu kupanda.They were arrested after protesting the rising cost of basic commodities.
Mokoro aliniwai rwabe nikamchekie ka kwota.Mamangu alinipa shilingi mia mbili nikamnunulie kilo nusu ya nyama.My mother gave me 200 shillings to go buy a quarter kilogram of meat.
Alirauka gware ndo asihate mat za kwenda kwao moshatha.Aliamka mapema ili asikose matatu ya kuenda kwao kijijini.He woke up early so as not to miss a matatu to his rural home.

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References

  1. "Change Request Documentation: 2016-034". SIL International .
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. Lambert, James. 2018. A multitude of 'lishes': The nomenclature of hybridity. English World-wide, 39(1): 13. doi : 10.1075/eww.38.3.04lam
  4. Business, The Standard. "Sheng affecting English, Kiswahili performance". The Standard. Retrieved 9 June 2023.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ODUOR, AUGUSTINE (2014). "Sheng not to blame for drop in KCSE English performance, scholars claim". The Standard. Retrieved 9 June 2023.

Additional literature