Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions
Word of the Day
See moreCompletely crazy; mind sprinting off the rails.
“Muface uya hanzi akumhanya bani, akawonekwa nezuro achitenderera tonaz akapfeka wig”
All Words(358 words)
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"
Nope. Nah. Negative, Ghost Rider. A one-syllable slap to any yes-or-no question.
Reply word that flatly denies or rejects whatever was just asked or suggested, similar to “nah” in English. Common swap: “maya”.
"Gogo: Nhai muzukuru, atete vakakupawo nzungu kubva kumusha? John: Meke. Gogo: Huh?!"
"Gogo: Grandson, did your aunty give you my peanuts from rural home? John: No. Gogo: Huh?!"
Word of the Day
See moreCompletely crazy; mind sprinting off the rails.
“Muface uya hanzi akumhanya bani, akawonekwa nezuro achitenderera tonaz akapfeka wig”