Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of Zimbabwean street lingo and ghetto speak
All Words(371 words)
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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About Zimbabwean street lingo
Shona slang, also called street lingo, ghetto speak or ghetto talk, is the everyday language of Zimbabwe's townships. Ghetto youths in Harare, Chitungwiza and beyond keep inventing new words, mixing Shona with English, flipping words backwards and coining code words for things best not said out loud. Much of it spreads through Zimdancehall lyrics, kombi rides and WhatsApp groups long before it reaches any textbook.
shonaslang collects these words with their meanings, usage examples and pronunciations, written by the people who use them. Browse words A-Z, read the blog or add a word you know.