"Kebibi" is spelled with the phonetic transcription /kɛˈbibi/. The initial sound is a voiceless velar stop [k], followed by a mid-front unrounded vowel [ɛ]. The second syllable begins with a voiced bilabial plosive [b], followed by the same mid-front unrounded vowel [ɛ] and ending with a voiced palatal glide [j]. The final syllable is the same as the first [bi]. "Kebibi" is a Swahili word meaning "a type of bean".