Sheng slang
Sheng is 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.
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.[2]
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.
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
| Sheng | English (definition) |
|---|---|
| kugura | to leave |
| boya | fool |
| mnati, ras | Rastafarian |
| babi, barbie | person who doesn't speak Sheng, person from a wealthy background |
| bonga (bong-gah), Roroa, zoza, banja, tema | talk |
| bonga mavi | talk smack |
| saksua | Search |
| para | cap |
| imbo | fake |
| digaga | spectacle |
| sepa | go away,flee |
| zingua | disturb |
| mbwakni | jumpy |
| peremba | interrogate |
| dai | want, view |
| dungia (doong-gi-ah), gawia, chapia, vutia | hit up (call someone) |
| apantambua | no respect to that (don't recognize that) |
| riba | story |
| serereka | have fun |
| dema | eat |
| pack,stick | live (somewhere) |
| deng'a, thwau, bunde, mchuma, mtoo, ridhe, fee, toka | gun, firearm |
| keroma | food |
| chapaa, munde, mundez, niado, ganji, doe, keroma, cheddar/chedaz,dau,mkwanja, makwarkwar,cheng | money |
| so, kioo, exsoo, red,os | one hundred shillings |
| finje, chuani, pachas, hamusini,nich | fifty shillings |
| mbao, blue | twenty shillings |
| ashuu, shoe, kindee, ikongo, das,teja | ten shillings |
| ndonya | sell |
| wai | buy |
| ngovo, kobole, guoko | five shillings |
| rwabe, doso, jill | two hundred shillings |
| punch, jirongo | five hundred shillings |
| thao, jii (like the letter G), kapaa, ngiri, ngwanye, ndovu, azar, K, muti, bramba | one thousand shillings |
| fala, mwere (mweh-reh), dwanzi, zuzu | stupid person, idiot |
| ocha, moshatha,shaggz | up country, rural home/area |
| noma, niku hatata, wa gwan | in a mess, trouble |
| Conte | Tough person |
| Oposh, momo,fatso,bazu | Fat person |
| 1 GB | Skinny person |
| njeve | cold |
| ingiza njeve,gwaya | get scared, be afraid, chicken out |
| Kanjo | city/town council officer |
| chapo | chapati |
| ngodha | underpants |
| msee,mzing' kizee, mdhii, mguys, mzeiya, mtunguyaz, mzaee,morio | guy, dude |
| dame, mresh, supuu, msupa, manzi, shore (sho-reh; from "shawty"), msusu, mroro, mshee, totoh, yeng, mdenge,nyegz,nguna | girl, chick |
| buda, mzae, arinzu, mzing | father |
| gweng, gwan | hard (difficult) |
| zii, nada, do, nah | no |
| mathree, mat, jive, jav, buu, nganya | matatu |
| ngwai, Tire (Tea-Reh), kithuke, vela, ndom, aroma, shashi, kenti, mashashola,kindukulu | bhang |
| msudi | traitor,snitch |
| deree, kigonyi, vandere | driver |
| konkodi, makanga, manumber, donda | bus/matatu conductor |
| fegi, mozo, ngale, fuaka | cigarette |
| Mzae | Parent |
| karao, gova, sanse, beast, afande,gova | police |
| keja, hao, mbanyu, base, digs,guba,ndaki | house, home |
| matha, mathe, mthama,masa,mondhres | woman, mother |
| mboch, chinebo | housegirl (maid) |
| mbota,wochi | watch |
| mbwenya, jako, blazer | coat |
| dhafu | Mathematics |
| mdosi, sonko, sos, penki, donga, bombay, bola, Okwonkwo,dela | Rich person |
| msoto,mbleina,sufferer, hustler | poor person |
| sota,kauka,chupri | go bankrupt/become poor |
| bie,B.A | good |
| mdosi, fathe, mbuyu, buda, arinzu, | dad |
| masa, mathe, mnyaka, mokoro, moda, mthama,mondhres | mum |
| ndauo | an individual with Maasai descent |
| mngoso | an individual with English descent |
| Mchinku | an individual with Chinese descent |
| msapere | an individual belonging to Kenya's Kikuyu ethnic community |
| Mkao, mcambodia, mnduli | an individual belonging to Kenya's Kamba ethnic community |
| mjaka,mjaze,mjaksus | an individual belonging to Kenya's Luo ethnic community |
| mlunje | an individual belonging to Kenya's Luhya ethnic community |
| mkale | an individual belonging to Kenya's Kalenjin ethnic community |
| Arges, walalo,oria | an individual belonging to Kenya's Somali ethnic community |
| Kasee | a male person from the Kamba ethnic community of Kenya |
| Baite(pronounced vaite) | a male person from the Meru ethnic community of Kenya |
| nare (nah-reh) | fire, matches |
| ndai, moti, murenga, dinga | car |
| ngata (ng-gah-tah), ngede (ng-geh-deh), irori | fuel |
| nguenos, ngwex, mwewe, ngwetes, ngokos | chicken |
| rodhi | trouser |
| njumu, njuti, ndula, magwanda,manduleng', chuja | shoes |
| poa, wazi, wabe, fiti, chonjo | cool |
| ubao, maunenge,kidale | hunger |
| mboka | city |
| uaganis | nonsense |
| veve, mbachu, shamba, mogoka,jaba | miraa |
| kuber (koo-beh-r), kubz,doze,mungich,mungiki | (chewing) tobacco |
| mburungo | cargo |
| chapa,donje, kiatu, forbes, kiraka, kubeat | ugly |
| fyat | crazy Teo Exams - |
| chipo, chibaz, njiva, vanga | chips |
| fika, ishia, jikata,sepa | to go somewhere |
| kirindi, mbogi | crowd |
| earthwire | neck tie |
| nyonde | bird |
| dush | dove/pigeon |
| mavi, mafi, shonde, shoi, shoste | faeces |
| shower | bath |
| mode (moh-day),odijo | teacher |
| mboka,mtaa | city, town, streets, neighbourhood |
| chuom | pathway |
| omoka,kukafunga, | be rich |
| mzii/noma | tough/bad |
| majuu, mayolo, chambele,farova | Western world/overseas |
| mlami,myuro | white person, Caucasian person |
| mtiaji, msororaji, mrazi | a cunning person, tattletale |
| kauzi, thegi, gondi, dingo, obe (ob), gwangi | thief, thug, mugger, burglar |
| masaa, githaa | time |
| mshikaji,bf,gf | boyfriend/girlfriend |
| pasuka, raruka | laugh |
| karokota, doze,kufinyilia,kutuna | take a nap, sleep |
| nyaku, waka, washa, gwezere, malaga, | drink (alcohol) |
| kalesa, pace,tembeza | walk a distance |
| tei | alcohol |
| tenje,mtambo | Radio/ music system or a phone |
| Nangos,digitz | Number |
| N.B. Words in brackets in the Sheng column show how the word is pronounced. | |
Examples
| Sheng | Standard Kiswahili (translation) | Standard English (translation) |
|---|---|---|
| Muokalaiz nikupeleke na mtara za gishagi | Karibia nikufunze jinsi ya kuishi huku nyumbani | Come let me show you how to survive here. |
| Uyo Arif ako na za ovyo | Huyo 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,watakuibia | Avoid that path it's ladden with thugs who'll steal from you.! |
| Tangu Kama akanjwe anajiskia skari,sana! | Kama alipo pata pesa,alianza kuringa | After receiving some money Kama became haughty! |
| Siko guba niko mtaa nikisaksua wira! | Sipo nyumbani,nimeenda mtaani kutafuta kazi | I am not in the house I have gone outside to look for work! |
| Amulia hata dhenga ya nich nijipin,niko kidale,mzing! | Ninunulie githeri ya hamsini tafadhali nile nina njaa | Could 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! |
| Ntadema Daso na Raila Cakes. | Ntainywa Soda kwa keki. | I will take a Soda with Raila Cakes. |
| 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 gova | Ufisadi ndio chanzo ya kushtakia kwake,mda wote yupo kizimbani Kwa mashtaka ya wizi was pesa za serikali | Corruption 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. |
| 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. |
See also
References
Additional literature
- Abdulaziz, Mohamed H. and Ken Osinde. 1997. Sheng and Engsh: development of mixed codes among the urban youth in Kenya. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 125 (Sociolinguistic Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa), pp. 45–63.
- Beck, Rose Marie. 2015. "Sheng: an urban variety of Swahili in Kenya." Youth Language Practices in Africa and Beyond, Nico Nassenstein and Andrea Hollington, (eds.) 51–79. Berlin: de Gruyter.
- Bosire, Mokaya. 2009. What makes a Sheng word unique? Lexical manipulation in mixed languages. In AkinloyeOjo & Lioba Moshi (Eds), Selected Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, 77–85.
- Bosire, Mokaya. 2006. Hybrid languages: The case of Sheng. In Olaoba F. Arasanyin & Michael A.Pemberton (Eds). Selected Proceedings of the 36th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, 185–193.
- Fee, D., & Moga, J. 1997. Sheng dictionary.Third edition. Nairobi: Ginseng Publishers.
- Fink, Teresa Kathleen. 2005. Attitudes toward languages in Nairobi. Diss. University of Pittsburgh.
- Githinji, Peter. 2005. Sheng and variation: The construction and negotiation of layered identities. PhD dissertation, Michigan State University.
- Githinji, Peter. 2006. Bazes and Their Shibboleths: Lexical Variation and Sheng Speakers' Identity in Nairobi. Nordic Journal of African Studies 15(4): 443–472.
- Githiora, Chege. 2002. Sheng: peer language, Swahili dialect or emerging Creole? Journal of African Cultural Studies Volume 15, Number 2, pp. 159–181.
- Githiora, Chege J. Sheng: rise of a Kenyan Swahili vernacular. Boydell & Brewer, 2018
- Kang’ethe-Iraki, Frederick. 2004. Cognitive Efficiency: The Sheng phenomenon in Kenya. Pragmatics 14(1): 55–68.
- Kießling, Roland & Maarten Mous. 2004. Urban Youth Languages in Africa. Anthropological Linguistics 46(3): 303-341
- Mazrui, Alamin. 1995. Slang and Codeswitching: The case of Sheng in Kenya. Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere 42: 168–179.
- Ogechi, Nathan Oyori. 2002. Trilingual Codeswitching in Kenya – Evidence from Ekegusii, Kiswahili, English and Sheng. Doctoral dissertation, Universität Hamburg.
- Ogechi, Nathan. 2005. On Lexicalization in Sheng. Nordic Journal of African Studies 14(3): 334–355.
- Samper, David. 2002. Talking Sheng: The role of a Hybrid Language in the Construction of Identity and Youth Culture in Nairobi Kenya. PhD Dissertation, University of Pennsylvania.
- Spyropoulos, Mary. 1987. Sheng: some preliminary investigations into a recently emerged Nairobi street language. Journal of the Anthropological Society 18 (1): 125–136.
- Vierke, Clarissa. 2015. "Some remarks on poetic aspects of Sheng." Global Repertoires and Urban Fluidity. Youth Languages in Africa, Nico Nassenstein and Andrea Hollington, (eds.) 227–256. Berlin: de Gruyter.
External links
- Sheng – Dictionary and Translator
- Talking Sheng: The role of a hybrid language in the construction of identity and youth culture in Nairobi, Kenya
- African Languages – Sheng – English–Sheng/Sheng–English lexicon