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)
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."
Deep poverty; broke-ness so certified even EcoCash sends “good luck” messages. Used to describe a person, place, or vibe that oozes “we’re barely scraping by, kukwangwaya last”
A state of serious poverty; being so broke even opportunity wears rags. Life tip: If someone calls your vibe chinenguvo, don’t clap back, clap up: chase that hustle and upgrade your animal hide to full-grain leather.
"Handina data, chinenguvo chakandisona, ndirikutoshandisa wifi yepa Latter Day Saints Church kuona musvasva"
"Zero data, poverty’s real: I’m just torching Latter Day Saints Church Wi-Fi to watch Brazzers."
Word of the Day
See moreCompletely crazy; mind sprinting off the rails.
“Muface uya hanzi akumhanya bani, akawonekwa nezuro achitenderera tonaz akapfeka wig”