Kenglish

After living in Kenya for a little while, our ears have begun to adjust to African-English accents and we’ve learned to decipher common Kenyan English phrases, uncommon to us as Americans.

Kenyan English Phrase	American English Translation
Agemates	Someone who is the same age as another
Me, I think	In my opinion
Logframe	Schedule
Same, same	Same
It’s just OK	It’s no big deal
Are we together?	Do you agree?
Feel at home, feel most welcome	Sit back, kick back, and relax
The other side	Anywhere but where you currently are
Nice time	Enjoy yourself
Take	Have

You were lost

I haven't seen you for a while

So here is a humble attempt to create a conversation an English speaker might have in Kenya. See if you can use the key above to decode:

“Hello friend, how are you?”

                  “I’m fine, how are you? Were you lost?”

“I was lost, but now am found. Me, I am also fine. The day is also fine. I see you are busy working on the logframe.”

                  “Yes, it’s quite a task. How is your family, is Mama Peter feeling better?”

“Yes thank you, she is OK. She was having the same same symptoms as Eunice, fever and headache. But now she is just ok.”

                  “Well I’m sorry that she was sick. I’m glad she is feeling better now. Where is Eunice?”

“I want to take tea and then go and pick her, she is playing with some agemates.”

                  “Oh, that sounds nice, are they playing at the school?”

“No, they are not at the school, but the other side, yes. You haven’t taken tea yet?”

                  “No not yet.”

“Well me, I think you can accompany me to the other side to take tea. Are we together?”

                  “Oh thank you, but maybe tomorrow. This logframe has a deadline of tomorrow.”

“Oh ok, well feel most welcome, feel at home.”

                  “Thank you, we will see each other tomorrow.”

“Yes, nice time.”

American English version

“Hey, what’s up?”

                  “Not much, what’s up with you? Haven't see you in a while”

“Yeah, I was gone on a trip, but now I'm fine, what are you doing?”

                  “Some stuff for work, how’s your wife feeling?”

“She’s doing good. I think she got whatever Eunice had, but now she’s fine.”

                  “Glad to hear, where is Eunice?”

“She’s playing with some of her friends. I’m just about to go and pick her up.”

                  “Gotcha, is she at the school?”

“No, they are playing at the park over on main street.” Do you want to grab a quick coffee before I go?”

                  “Thanks, but I need to stay and get this work done.”

“Ok, no big deal, good luck.”

                  “Ok, later.”

“Yeah, see you.”