Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions
All Words(355 words)
(v.) To mess up, flop, or break something you shouldn’t have. To be at fault; the blame that lands on your head.
Kana ukabhaiza, everyone in the group chat suddenly becomes an auditor. Severity range: from burning sadza to crashing your cousin’s Honda Fit. Automatic soundtrack “It wasn’t me …” 🎶 - but yes, it was you.
"Apa wakabhaiza wangu, ungatuke momz?"
"You really messed up big time, insulting your mother?"
To go hard; to grind; to push relentlessly toward a goal or task.
"Mukoma, kana usinga hadhire, mari haizouya."
"Bro, if you don’t go hard, the money won’t come."
Doing something little by little; progress in small increments.
Bit by bit, little by little, drip-feed style. Imagine pouring hupfu through a pin-hole funnel: progress is real, but you’re gonna age a decade before the pot is full. Synonyms: chipatapata (slowly), zvishoma-nezvishoma. Life hack: When someone says the bag will come mutoti-mutoti, pack a sandwich and a charging cable, you’ll be there a while.
"Mota yaita kugadzirwa mutoti-mutoti, nhasi oil change, mangwana plugs."
"The car was getting fixed bit by bit, oil change today, spark plugs the following day."
Trending Words
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?”