Kiswahili
Slang Dictionary
('Kamusi ya Kiswahili cha Mtaani')
Word | Meaning | Literal Meaning | Other 'street' synonym | Use instead | Widely known | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bongo | Tanzania, Tanganyika, Dar es Salaam | brain | Bongoland | Tanzania, Tanganyika, Dar es Salaam | TRUE | Ili uweze kuishi Bongoland, lazima uwe na miradi. |
changudoa | young prostitute | a specie of fish | CD | kahaba | TRUE | Machangudoa wanakabiliwa na hatari ya UKIMWI. |
chuna | extort money | skin (someone) | chanja | toza | TRUE | Wanachojua watoto wa mjini ni kuwachuna wote wanaozubaa. |
Dizim | Dar es Salaam | DSM | Bongo | Dar | TRUE | Kila mtu anatamani japo kufika tu Dizim. |
kitimoto | pork | hot seat | mkuu wa meza | nyama ya nguruwe | TRUE | Siku hiyo kila mtu alipika kitimoto. |
kitu kidogo | bribe | something little | chauchau, chai | rushwa, hongo | TRUE | Kitu kidogo kinasababisha huduma duni za jamii. |
lupango | prison | selo | jela | TRUE | Kwenda Lupango ni sawa na kuhukumiwa kifo. | |
majuu | 'up' | abroad | mamtoni, kwa mama | ng'ambo | TRUE | Tangu achaguliwe anaenda majuu kama Kariakoo. |
matanuzi | extravagance | 'extension' | matumizi | TRUE | matanuzi yana gharama kubwa. | |
mguu wa kuku | pistol | a hen's leg | chuma | bastola | TRUE | Mtu mwenye pesa sasa anaweza kujipatia 'mguu wa kuku' dukani. |
mwanga (pl. wanga) | witch | light | gagula | mchawi, mshirikina | TRUE | Alipomkuta kaburini usiku, alimhisi kuwa ni mwanga. |
ngurumbili | human being | mtu, binadamu | FALSE | Huwezi kumdhibiti ngurumbili | ||
njagu (pl. manjagu) | police officer | mwela, njago | polisi, askari | TRUE | Kinachotukera ni mtindo wa yule njago kukamata watu ovyo. | |
sirikali | government | 'hot secret' | Serikali | TRUE | Sirikali nyingi za Afrika hazizingatii haki za binadamu. | |
ukapa | economic depression, lack of money, lack of purchasing power | kuwamba, kuwaka, kuchalala | Ukata | TRUE | Ukapa mwaka huu utatuua! Hata dawa za homa tu hatumudu kununua! | |
ulabu | any local brew | udirinki, mataputapu, 'taps' | Pombe ya kienyeji | TRUE | Baada ya kupata ulabu, alianza kufanya mambo ya ajizi. | |
ung'eng'e | English language | Kimombo | Kiingereza | TRUE | Anayeongea ung'eng'e huonwa msomi. | |
ngangari | stable, unswerving | ngunguri | thabiti, imara | TRUE | Baada ya wao kuwa ngangari, manjagu wakawa ngunguri. | |
kasheshe | mayhem, furore | kosovo, zohali, sheshe | vurumai, vurugu | TRUE | Maandamo yalileta kasheshe kubwa! | |
kideo | 1.
Video 2. gazing-stock |
One Video | 1.
Video 2. Kituko |
TRUE | hakujua alikuwa anaonekana kideo. | |
Bushi | Rural area | Bush | Usweken | Kijijini / Vijijini | TRUE | Alivyo utafikiri katoka Bushi jana! |
Gogo | Passenger train | a tribe in central Tanzania | garimoshi, treni | TRUE | Enzi zetu tulikuwa tunapanda gogo bure | |
mnoko | Someone 'too' strict | mkuda, mnaa, kinaa | mwadilifu | TRUE | Amekuwa mwalimu wa nidhamu kutokana na kuwa mnoko. | |
noma |
embarassment, scandal |
skendo |
Kadhia, Kashfa |
TRUE |
Ikawa noma kweli alipokamatwa |
|
Maimuna |
S/he who cannot speak or understand a language or a specific knowledge |
A female name |
Hafahamu, maamuma |
TRUE |
Walimwita 'Maimuna' kwa vile tu eti alishindwa kuongea Kiingereza! |
|
Kihiyo (pl. Vihiyo) |
A person who is supposed to be an expert, but actually is not trully qualified. |
A male name |
Asiye na sifa |
TRUE |
Vihiyo Bongoland wako kila mahali. |
|
Dala (n) |
Five |
Dollar |
Gwala | Tano | TRUE | Mchezaji wao namba Dala aliwasaidia sana wasifungwe. |
=bomu (v) | To beg from some one, especially money. | bomb | -piga mzinga | -omba | TRUE | Walevi wa madawa ya kulevya hawaoni haya kumbomu kila mtu |
Mzungu wa Unga (n) |
Drug dealer |
"A white person with flour" |
Zungu la Unga |
Muuza madawa ya kulevya |
TRUE | Wanaokamatwa mara nyingi ni watumiaji wadogo, na si wazungu wa unga. |
Citation: Mtembezi, Chumvi. 2000. Kiswahili Slang Dictionary. Chumvi Mtembezi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. URL: https://chumvi.tripod.com/Kiswahili_slang_dictionary.html. Version 0.7Alpha. Last updated: December 15, 2000.
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