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)
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 "
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?"
Matches or lighter used to spark a cigarette, blunt or fire.
Your fire-starter: a box of matches or a pocket lighter. Without gwenya, that fresh mogo (cigarette) is just a fancy toothpick. Pro-tip: Carry a spare gwenya, nothing ruins a chill session like the “Who’s got fire?” scramble.
"Une gwenya here? Mogo yangu yadzima."
"Got a light? My cigarette just gone out."
A cigarette, usually a single stick rather than a full pack.
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.
"Ndikatirewo mogo wangu"
"Can you cut me some draws from your cigarette, my guy?"
Word of the Day
See moreCompletely crazy; mind sprinting off the rails.
“Muface uya hanzi akumhanya bani, akawonekwa nezuro achitenderera tonaz akapfeka wig”