Discover Contemporary Shona Slang

Often used when calling someone out for a mistake they need to own. Verb form: kuporonga. Someone who keeps messing up is called Porongi.

Most often refers to a Coca-Cola, but can mean any soft drink or cold beverage. Plural is makuvha. Related to the more modern coolayo, popularised by Zimbabwean rapper Holy Ten, though coolayo refers to an alcoholic drink.

Very similar to kusasa, which also means to say or talk (masasi being sayings or statements). Often used with rubbish or zvisina basa when someone is talking nonsense, e.g. Haikona kuprata nonsense (Don’t talk nonsense/ Keep quiet).

Has two main uses. It can mean the spot or scene where things are happening, often heard as paposhto (at the spot). It can also mean a deal, plan or inside knowledge, e.g. Ukaziva poshto iri wakumberi (If you know this deal, you’re way ahead of the game).

Casual slang for kurara (to sleep)

Originated in Southley Park and Hopley Farm Settlement, Harare, low-income settlements on the city’s southern edge. When Irvine’s sent out a tractor to dump eggs deemed unfit for sale, a crew from the community would follow it and collect the eggs before they were disposed of. Those eggs became known as olato.

A friendly and respectful way to address a mate, mostly used between guys. It comes from baba (father), with the chi- prefix making it respectful, playful and familiar.

Often used as kuita bororo (to do a dodgy deal or hustle). It can describe anything from small-time dealing to fraud. It’s usually said knowingly, with a hint that everyone knows the money isn’t clean.

Casual street slang, used in place of zvakawanda or vakawanda. It usually comes after the noun it describes, e.g. mari jahwi (loads of money), mota jahwi (so many cars).