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Tokaa, achana nayo, naitwa Chira, wabebe, my husband, & aah manze are some of the viral phrases on TikTok.

9 famous TikTok phrases & their origins | Pulselive Kenya

Fabian Simiyu

<p>Step into the vibrant world of TikTok, where creativity knows no bounds and phrases become cultural phenomena.</p>

<p>From dance crazes to comedic one-liners, TikTok has become a breeding ground for viral sensations.</p>

<p>The following are viral phrases on the platform and their origin.</p>

<p>Austin Muigai has certainly become one of the well-known content creators in Kenya currently.</p>

<p>Starting with short clips, he gained recognition and now has his own catchphrase that people use to indicate that things are not going as expected and that they want a particular person to leave them alone.</p>

<p>For Austin, the phrase<em> 'tokaa'</em> came into play when girls were toying with his emotions, and he simply told them to leave.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@austin_muigai/video/7077550512974892293" data-video-id="7077550512974892293" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@austin_muigai" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@austin_muigai?refer=embed">@austin_muigai</a> <p>Uko na chali na Unakula kuku yangu. @_unusual_rel  <a title="austinkulia" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/austinkulia?refer=embed">#austinkulia</a> <a title="characterdevelopment" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/characterdevelopment?refer=embed">#characterdevelopment</a> <a title="emotionalaustin" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/emotionalaustin?refer=embed">#emotionalaustin</a> <a title="yourguymuigai" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/yourguymuigai?refer=embed">#yourguymuigai</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed">#fyp</a> <a title="toka" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/toka?refer=embed">#toka</a> <a title="nairobitiktokers" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nairobitiktokers?refer=embed">#nairobitiktokers</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Austin Muigai" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7077550503047006981?refer=embed">♬ original sound - Austin Muigai</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>

<p>The same response applied to his male friends who betrayed him behind his back.</p>

<p>The phrase has become common in Kenya, to the extent that t-shirts and hoodies with the word<em> 'tokaa'</em> printed on them are available.</p>

<p>Content creator Vinnie Baite has mastered the art of storytelling, even though his stories may often be out of context and difficult to connect.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/comedian-vinnie-baite-acquires-brand-new-car-photo/hr677vz">Vinnie utilizes</a> the phrase <em>'achana nayo'</em> (which roughly translates to "let it go") when narrating a story, often abruptly switching to another topic without completing the initial one.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@churchillshow/video/7095249636444605701" data-video-id="7095249636444605701" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@churchillshow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@churchillshow?refer=embed">@churchillshow</a> <p><a title="vinniebaite" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vinniebaite?refer=embed">#vinniebaite</a> <a title="churchillshow" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/churchillshow?refer=embed">#churchillshow</a> <a title="churchillshowcomedy" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/churchillshowcomedy?refer=embed">#churchillshowcomedy</a> <a title="churchillshowkenya" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/churchillshowkenya?refer=embed">#churchillshowkenya</a> <a title="churchillshowexperince🔥🔥😉" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/churchillshowexperince%F0%9F%94%A5%F0%9F%94%A5%F0%9F%98%89?refer=embed">#churchillshowexperince🔥🔥😉</a> <a title="mwalimuchurchill" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mwalimuchurchill?refer=embed">#mwalimuchurchill</a> <a title="foryou" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou?refer=embed">#foryou</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed">#fyp</a> <a title="fypシ" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp%E3%82%B7?refer=embed">#fypシ</a> <a title="fypシ゚viral" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp%E3%82%B7%E3%82%9Aviral?refer=embed">#fypシ゚viral</a> <a title="fyppppppppppppppppppppppp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyppppppppppppppppppppppp?refer=embed">#fyppppppppppppppppppppppp</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - ChurchillShow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7095249643059710725?refer=embed">♬ original sound - ChurchillShow</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>

<p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/the-dark-side-of-fame-vinnie-baite-speaks-on-celebrity-extortion/gk2wpxy"><strong>The dark side of fame - Vinnie Baite speaks on celebrity extortion</strong></a></p>

<p>His tales are referred to as<em> 'story za jaba'</em>, indicating stories without factual backgrounds.</p>

<p>The phrase has become common, and people use it when sharing stories that are hard to resonate with or when dismissing a story that seems far-fetched.</p>

<p>The phrase <a href="https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/why-ladies-troll-tiktoker-sueh-owino/6t0qvzt">'my husband' has become common </a>among Kenyan TikTok users and is often associated with TikToker Sueh Owino, who enjoys documenting everything she does for her husband.</p>

<p>In nearly every video Sueh uploads, the phrase <em>'my husband'</em> is prominently featured, leading people to poke fun at it when they are with their own partners.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@suehowino/video/7226368104014597382" data-video-id="7226368104014597382" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@suehowino" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@suehowino?refer=embed">@suehowino</a> <p>I cook everyday for my husband part 277 :If interested in weekly a meal plan with recipes go to my profile click on the link it will send you to my WhatsApp and you can order from there 🥰 <a title="suehgang" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/suehgang?refer=embed">#suehgang</a> <a title="suehowino" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/suehowino?refer=embed">#suehowino</a> <a title="housewife" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/housewife?refer=embed">#housewife</a> </p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Shetani - Mbosso" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Shetani-7159423592902428673?refer=embed">♬ Shetani - Mbosso</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>

<p>For Sueh, her world revolves around her husband, and her repeated use of the phrase has captured the attention of Kenyans.</p>

<p>When TikToker Bena Wa Malines gained sudden popularity, his catchy phrase <em>'aah manze'</em><strong><em> </em></strong>became a trend, and many people attempted to imitate him using the same expression.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@taiboyke0/video/7153901455739587845" data-video-id="7153901455739587845" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@taiboyke0" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@taiboyke0?refer=embed">@taiboyke0</a> <p><a title="benawamalines" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/benawamalines?refer=embed">#benawamalines</a> @nasimuyu4</p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - 🇹 🇦 🇮 🇧 🇴 🇾" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7153901431148268293?refer=embed">♬ original sound - 🇹 🇦 🇮 🇧 🇴 🇾</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>

<p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/bena-wa-malines-comedian-who-stormed-tiktok-with-1-viral-video-pulse-one-on-one/j87msh0"><strong>Bena Wa Malines: How TikTok changed my life from matatu tout [WATCH]</strong></a></p>

<p>Other widely acknowledged phrases from Bena include <em>'molio', 'sape',</em> and<em> 'pulahia'</em>.</p>

<p>Former <em>Citizen TV </em>presenter Willis Raburu ensured that he left a lasting impression on TV by introducing his own tagline, something that people would remember him by.</p>

<p>Raburu coined the phrase <em>'wabebe'</em>, which he frequently used to hype up the crowd while hosting the<strong><em> '10/10 Show'.</em></strong></p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@willisraburu/video/7197084339266440453" data-video-id="7197084339266440453" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@willisraburu" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@willisraburu?refer=embed">@willisraburu</a> <p>Embu this was Epic! We brought it 🔥🔥🔥 <a title="harmonize" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/harmonize?refer=embed">#Harmonize</a> <a title="bazu" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bazu?refer=embed">#Bazu</a> <a title="fypシ" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp%E3%82%B7?refer=embed">#fypシ</a> <a title="tiktokkenya🇰🇪" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tiktokkenya%F0%9F%87%B0%F0%9F%87%AA?refer=embed">#tiktokkenya🇰🇪</a> <a title="viralvideo" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/viralvideo?refer=embed">#viralvideo</a> </p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - WillisRaburu" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7197084355964062469?refer=embed">♬ original sound - WillisRaburu</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>

<p>Even in his videos and interviews, Raburu would often shout <em>'wabebe'</em> to add liveliness and energy to the content.</p>

<p>Brian Chira is another Kenyan TikToker who gained massive popularity on the internet in no time, with Kenyans quickly cutting clips of his introductions and making him trend everywhere.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@chirabrian1/video/7228162705834757381" data-video-id="7228162705834757381" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@chirabrian1" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@chirabrian1?refer=embed">@chirabrian1</a> <p>text messages I'm receiving <a title="brianchira" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/brianchira?refer=embed">#brianchira</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed">#fyp</a> <a title="foryou" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou?refer=embed">#foryou</a> </p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - chira" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7228162702609894150?refer=embed">♬ original sound - chira</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>

<p>Chira has a fondness for introducing himself with the tagline<em> 'naitwa Chira'</em> (which translates to <em>"I am called Chira"</em> in English), and people often imitate him, with some successfully capturing his unique speaking style.</p>

9 famous TikTok phrases & their origins

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