Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of Zimbabwean street lingo and ghetto speak
All Words(365 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."
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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.