karao

noun

police officer.

A durable street-level term; context can make it descriptive or wary.

Origins

Karao names a police officer in Sheng, reshaped from the Swahili word for the riot shield those officers carry.

Nathan Oyori Ogechi, On Lexicalization in Sheng (Nordic Journal of African Studies, 2005), 346–347.
Sources karau / police from Kiswahili karaya (riot shield) via truncation.

Karao aliuliza ID.
The police officer asked for an ID.
Tuliwona karao kwa gate.
We saw a police officer at the gate.
Usibishane na karao.
Do not argue with the police officer.
Karao walipitia roadblock.
The police officers went through the roadblock.
Niliona karao kwa corner.
I saw a police officer at the corner.
Karao alituuliza tulitoka wapi.
The police officer asked us where we came from.
Usikimbie ukiona karao.
Do not run when you see a police officer.
Karao alikuwa na radio.
The police officer had a radio.
Tulizungumza na karao kwa heshima.
We spoke with the police officer respectfully.