Discover Contemporary Shona Slang

A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions

All Words(354 words)

Cool / Okay / Fine

by Ruvimbo_24 17 Jun 2025
295

(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.

A creative fix or scheme; to make things happen against the odds. Pro-tip: In Zim, if someone says “Ita ka plan,” translation = “Perform magic, fam.” Batteries not included.

"Sha, ita ka plan timbonakirwa weekend!"

"Mate, sort something out so we can have fun this weekend!"

by Kudzi X 17 Jun 2025
280

Make a plan / Do something

by Kudzi X 17 Jun 2025
100

That's something else / Irrelevant

by chipsmasimba_2003 17 Jun 2025
160

Grandfather / Old man

by Ruvimbo_24 17 Jun 2025
277

Mate / Bro

by Ruvimbo_24 17 Jun 2025
306

Mate / Bro

by Nesu-epic 17 Jun 2025
161

How are things? / How's it going?

by Nesu-epic 17 Jun 2025
180

Informal “How are things on your side?”

Quick sense: “How’s it over there?” or “How are things your side?” A casual, peer-to-peer way to kick off convo, think Shona version of “Sup?” or “How you holding up?” When to drop it: voice note to your boy paJoza, random call to cousin stuck “kumapfanya”, text to bae who blue-ticked you since Monday.

"Ehhh bro, kurisei? Ndanzwa mota yakabondera."

"Hey bro, how's it going? I hear the ride crashed "

by chipsmasimba_2003 17 Jun 2025
260

Informal “What’s up?” / “How are you?”

The 21st-century Shona “sup?” that replaces "wakadii hako" with maximum brevity and zero vowels wasted. Promax-tip: Answer “wadii?” with anything from “bho-o” to a five-minute rant; the word asks zero follow-ups unless you choose drama.

"Wadii wangu? Parisei paden?"

"Sup, dude? How's home?"

by Kudzi X 17 Jun 2025
62