Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions
All Words(354 words)
Bribing or the act of greasing someone’s hand to make bureaucracy magically disappear.
Public Service Announcement: Bribing may speed things up but so can a free tour of Chikurubi if you get caught. Choose your shortcuts wisely!
"Hapana kunzi parikuda kutonyora here kuti upihwe basa?"
"Didn't they say you need to bribe to get the job?"
Easily, quickly, fast
"Mbinga iya haibatike zvakumhanya"
"You can't get hold of that rich man easily"
Crazy
"Kamudhara kaya hakasi kekusizer wangu, unopedzesera wakudya mabin"
"Don't mess with that old man, you'll end up going crazy"
Completely crazy; head engine revving past the red zone.
mhanya = run 🏃♂️, mushini = machine 🛠️ Translation: “The engine is running at full revs.” In street English: brain’s red-lining, sanity just blew a gasket. So, how do you spot someone kuti akumhanya mushini? -> Random monologue, debating fuel prices with a pothole. Safety tip 🛑: If a friend akumhanya mushini for real, not just for likes, swap the roast for a helping hand. Otherwise? Roast away, but keep a fire extinguisher for that overheated brain!
"Munhu kufamba achizvirova magadziko, haaa akumhanya mushini uyo!"
"Guy's literally slapping his butt as he walks, now he's off the rails!"
Completely crazy; mind sprinting off the rails.
Literal picture: mhanya = run 🏃♂️, bani = open plain 🌾. So when your brain “runs across the plains,” it has officially bolted past sanity. Completely crazy / loopy / having a full-on mental breakdown. Synonym: mhanya mushini (“the brain machine is sprinting”). Mental-health footnote: Slang is savage, if someone’s genuinely struggling, swap the roast for real help. Otherwise, roast away (responsibly).
"Muface uya hanzi akumhanya bani, akawonekwa nezuro achitenderera tonaz akapfeka wig"
"They say that dude is now going crazy, he was seen yesterday roaming around town with a wig"
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Safe
Okay, good, all clear. The verbal nod that says, “No worries, proceed.”
Mogo
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?”