Sheng is a slang language spoken in most urban areas in Kenya but predominantly in Nairobi.
"Sheng" is an acronym for Swahili-English Slang. It is built on Swahili-English code switching, flavoured with words from other Kenyan native languages, such as Gikuyu, Dholuo, and Kamba.
What began as a coded tongue of Nairobi's lower-class youth has, over the decades, evolved into a language that a subset of the youth continually invents and actively uses, while the rest of Kenya eagerly consumes, especially through music.
It is now turning into a vernacular, with many born in the 1980s and later (born taos) speaking it as their first language.
Sheng Stories
✔️ Top 50 Trending Sheng words in 2026
Please navigate to the Sheng dictionary section to learn the latest Sheng words and their meaning. The Sheng words you should know in 2026.