Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions
All Words(354 words)
Mate / Bro / My friend. A friendly way to address a male peer, similar to “bro” or “mate.”
Etiquette notes Age & respect: Usually used with someone your own age or younger. Dropping “wangu” to an elder can sound cheeky or disrespectful. Gender: Most often aimed at men; calling a woman “wangu” is uncommon unless you know each other well and she’s cool with it.
"X: Wangu, phone yako bho here? Y: Ah, bho zvekuti, inongoda charger nyowani."
"X: My guy, is your phone good? Y: Ah, very good, it just needs a new charger."
How is it going? / How are you? / How are things? / How's life? / What's up?
"Zvakamirasei wangu?"
"How's it going my friend?"
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Okay, good, all clear. The verbal nod that says, “No worries, proceed.”
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A cigarette, usually a single stick rather than a full pack.
plan
(n.) A hustle blueprint, scheme, or last-minute fix. (v.) To sort something out MacGyver-style when resources = 0. If life gives you lemons and no sugar, plan means you still conjure Mazoe somehow.
Meke
Nope. Nah. Negative, Ghost Rider. A one-syllable slap to any yes-or-no question.
Kurisei?
Informal “How are things on your side?”