Digital creator Miss Jackie has sparked an online debate after sharing a video in which she named several Gen Z Sheng phrases that give her the “ick”.
In the video shared on her TikTok page, Miss Jackie singled out the words “mafrumbanya”, “utat”, “nyang’anya” and “goshodo” as expressions she finds irritating.
She said hearing young people use the phrases in everyday conversations puts her off.
Her comments drew mixed reactions from social media users, with some agreeing that certain Sheng expressions can sound awkward or overused, while others defended the slang as part of Gen Z’s identity.
Several netizens argued that young people use the phrases casually among friends rather than to impress anyone.
Others joked that every generation has its own slang, noting that expressions popular among older generations may sound just as strange to today’s youth.
Some users also pointed out that Sheng continues to evolve as a living language that blends Swahili, English and various Kenyan languages. Social media platforms such as TikTok have also helped spread new expressions among young people.
Millennials, too, had their own popular slang in the 1990s and 2000s. Expressions such as “kobole”, “ponyi” and “kutuna”, which were once familiar to many young Kenyans, are no longer as widely used as they were at the time.
Despite the criticism, Miss Jackie’s video continued to fuel discussion about whether Gen Z Sheng is a form of creative expression or a confusing collection of phrases that can leave other generations struggling to keep up.
Many young Kenyans maintained that slang helps them connect with their peers and express themselves freely.
The debate has since opened up a wider conversation about language, generational differences and the role Sheng plays in how Kenyan youth communicate both online and offline.
For now, the phrases remain part of many Gen Z conversations, even if they do not appeal to everyone.