Words starting with M

Like telling someone to gulp an entire refrigerator so they cool off from the inside out. Close synonym: miswa.

Reply word that flatly denies or rejects whatever was just asked or suggested, similar to “nah” in English. Common swap: “maya”.

Literal breakdown: mhandara = virgin, ruoko = hand “Virgin-hand.” DIY pleasure where the only partner is five fingers and a vivid imagination. Synonym rap-sheet: gweto / gwetembe – same crime, legal jargon. Five-star / five-a-side – five fingers doing teamwork. Bonyo-ponyo - because onomatopoeia never lies.

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).

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!

Often shouted at one who’s clowning around, exaggerating, or crossing a small social line. Dismissive but not vulgar

Contemporary substitute for the actual term "fodya". Informal, youth-to-middle-age vernacular; used at kombi ranks, shebeens, clubs, bottle stores. Rarely heard in formal Shona.

Close synonym: rata (also a strong slap); other variants: zenya, demo, lighter, gwati. Usage tip: In ghetto banter, someone might threaten “ndinokudira mucheka” to warn they’ll shut the other person up with one blow.