Top 20 Most Popular Shona slang Phrases or Words

Our language has been evolving over the years. In the past 10 years the change has been so fast that some slang words might be thought to be real Shona words by a Zimbabwean that never left the country such as :

Hauite Hauite!!!

You are the man/cool/you killed it/or you did something thats not expected

Ma1

Its a crazy situation

Usadaro

Don’t even go there

Chakachaya

It’s on

Unotoshaya kuti zvirikumbofamba sei

You could never imagine.

Parisei

How about that

iCorrect

It’s right

Free Mbada

It can mean anything to do being free e.g ”free mbada yangu in reference to a girl means my girlfriend”

Mhero

Mom

Mangonjo

The police, Ngonjo (sing.)

Jockey

A prostitute

Zhingas

It’s fake

Ndai

Money

Zinumber

Hit song

Mbada

Rich person, or a debt

Poshto

Spalla, the spot

Pakadoma

The free seat on top of the engine in a commuter omni-bus

Pane Madhiri?

Are there any deals we can engage in?(Hustler Language)

Makeke

Its a piece of cake