Word of the Day Archive

Wangu

Mate / Bro / My friend. A friendly way to address a male peer, similar to “bro” or “mate.”

Etiquette notes Age & respect: Usually used with someone your own age or younger. Dropping “wangu” to an elder can sound cheeky or disrespectful. Gender: Most often aimed at men; calling a woman “wangu” is uncommon unless you know each other well and she’s cool with it.

Zvakamirasei?

How is it going? / How are you? / How are things? / How's life? / What's up?

Chidadi

Cash

Bag

Cash

Mari

Money / $1

Goshto

Bhozhongora

To steal / pinch / jack something that isn’t yours. Usually slick, often petty, but always frowned upon unless you’re the one scoring the loot.

Public Service Announcement 🛑 If you get caught “uchi bhozhongora masinhi” in Harare CBD, expect free doses of mucheka from the crowd. Stay honest, kids! Synonyms include bhosha, nyambita, simudza, tora, “five-finger discount”.

Mapros

Thing / Stuff

Sinhi marker

Thing / Stuff

Chipoko round

Thing / Stuff

Sinhi

Thing / Stuff

Breya

Jail,arrested

Tonyora

Bribing or the act of greasing someone’s hand to make bureaucracy magically disappear.

Public Service Announcement: Bribing may speed things up but so can a free tour of Chikurubi if you get caught. Choose your shortcuts wisely!

Amana

Fellas, guys

Hazvibude

It won't work

Zvekumhanya

Easily, quickly, fast

Zvamanje-manje

For now, currently, at the moment

Twaya

Crazy

Kudya mabin

Crazy

Mhanya mushini

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!