Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions
All Words(356 words)
(1) Pure, unmixed cannabis; (2) figurative: raw sex, high-voltage passion.
(mah-GEH-tsee) - noun, double-meaning slang. Primary meaning: Pure weed, rolled without tobacco, straight ital, no “mogo” blend. Secondary (metaphor): raw sex - “live-wire” vibes, zero insulation. Why the name? From magetsi = electricity → the high hits like a power surge. Close terms include chamba, mashizha, danda (blunt); for the metaphor: yeke (raw).
"Unorova magetsi chete here? Nhasi handina mogo yemix."
"Do you hit only pure weed? I don't have any cigarette to blend the blunt."
A stern “stop that nonsense,” telling someone to quit their ill-advised behaviour
(moo-sah-tee-FEHN-deh-reh) - imperative phrase, polite-but-firm shutdown. Literal root = “Stop fainting.” “Quit that foolishness right now.” Used when someone’s logic is doing cartwheels and you need them back on earth, often paired with “miswa iwe!” for double emphasis. Tone = half-reprimand, half-eye-roll: you’re not furious yet, but the nonsense quota is full. Synonyms: stop messing around, cut the crap, don’t be silly, behave yourself.
"Mungandivhunze kuti ndicharoorwa rinhi? Haaa musatifendere!"
"You are asking me when am I getting married? Just cut the crap!"
Right then and there, on the spot, in that exact moment.
(zveh-ee-PAH-poh) — adverb / time-stamp slang. Straight-away, instant, same-time, zero-buffer. No delay, no committee meeting - act immediately.
"Paakangonzwa riddim richipinda akabva atotanga chant zveipapo, pasina kana warm-up."
"He heard the beat drop and started freestyling instantly, no warm-up."
Describes a clumsy, easily panicked, or over-zealous person who tends to fumble simple tasks or just being all over
(beh-TWEH-tweh) — adjective / personality tag Meaning Clumsy, scatter-brained, over-eager; the type who drops the phone while answering it and apologises to the phone. Signature moves: hitting Reply-All on a company-wide email to say “Thanks.”
"Uyuwo ane betwetwe, dzungu too much"
"This one is just all over the place, too much energy "
To nag or bother someone persistently.
(TSOH-mah) — verb, nag-attack slang Meaning To pester, bother, nag endlessly,pecking at someone until they either give in or fake a network blackout. Vibe:Relentless WhatsApp pings, five missed calls, “Have you done it yet?” every ten minutes. Synonyms: bug, hassle, hound, “pressurise.”
"Makutonditsoma ka? Inga wani ndakati mari yerent ndinokupai svondo rinouya"
"You are now bothering me, I told you I will get your rent money next week"
A relaxed hang-out spot for friends to gather, eat, drink, and unwind.
(GOSS-toh) — noun, hang-out slang Meaning: a laid-back chill spot where the crew can kick back, snack, sip, and talk endless nonsense without anyone policing the volume. Atmosphere: plastic chairs, Bluetooth speaker on 7 %, braai smoke drifting, someone whipping out a deck of cards just as the sun sets.
"Ndiribho pagoshto wangu, takacooler down. Huya nemakuvha"
"I’m at the chill spot my guy, just chilling. Bring the drinks when you pop over"
Sexual intercourse; to have sex.
(lahm-LAHM) — noun / verb, after-hours slang. Meaning: straight-up sex, the horizontal hustle, the two-person firmware update. Tone: playful, slightly cheeky; used when you don’t want to drop the clinical “sex” or the explicit four-letter alternatives. Synonyms: “bhaudha,” “kupaita,” “raw sauce,” “kunanganisa,” “checking oil (advanced version).”
"Kana phone yangu iri paDo-Not-Disturb mode, wotongoziva tinenge tichirova lam-lam"
"If my phone is on Do-Not-Disturb, assume we’re busy having sex "
To call, ring, blow up someone’s phone.
To place a phone call, to ring someone. Typical vibe: unexpected ringtone that pops up at the most inconvenient moment, ex’s telepathy, boss’s weekend “quick check,” or mom’s “where are you?” radar.
"Wangu! Gaya Primrose akazondibvoda ndine rimwe beda takadya relax - haa mood yakachinja fast"
"My guy, just imagine Primrose decided to call me while I was mid-Netflix date - instant plot twist."
A red-light zone; physical street or online space where sex workers advertise and secure clients.
Street meaning: Any red-light district or hunting ground for sex work. Can be physical (Avenues after dusk) or digital (Tinder, spicy Twitter DMs). Evolving map, 1990s: Avenues + bar corridors. 2020s: Swipe left, pay later. Match-day: VIP stand suddenly flooded with non-football “fans.” Spotting cues Surge in ring-light selfies, suspiciously perfect wigs, and entrance fees that spike after 8 p.m.
"Kuvhura site pakati pehusiku yato touchline"
"Scrolling at midnight? Careful, that timeline is pure touchline energy. "
Crack cocaine; small rock-like pieces of processed cocaine base for smoking.
Meaning: Crack cocaine; the rock that smokes itself. Root: from Ndau buwe = stone -> the “little rock” that detonates brain cells. Synonyms: dombo, guka, hard white
"Akamhanyisa phone yamomz kuti atenge Buwe"
"He pawned his mother’s phone to score a pouch of crack"