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manzi

noun

girl; girlfriend.

A familiar Sheng relationship term whose force depends on speaker and setting.

Origins

Manzi is a long-standing Sheng word for a girl or girlfriend; a publication-grade donor claim is still open.

  1. Nathan Oyori Ogechi, On Lexicalization in Sheng (Nordic Journal of African Studies, 2005), 346–347.

    Attests manzi as girlfriend in the Sheng synonym chain and proposes a probable link to Kiswahili manzili.

Examples

  1. Manzi wake anajua story.

    His girl knows the story.

  2. Huyo manzi ni mcheso.

    That girl is fun.

  3. Alimtext manzi wake.

    They texted their girl.

  4. Manzi alicheka tu.

    The girl just laughed.

  5. Niliona manzi kwa base.

    I saw a girl at the base.

  6. Manzi wake anapenda music.

    His girlfriend likes music.

  7. Usizungumzie manzi vibaya.

    Do not speak badly about the girl.

  8. Manzi alileta vibe.

    The girl brought the vibe.

  9. Huyo manzi ni mwerevu.

    That girl is smart.

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