Zimbabwe Slang Dictionary

Zimbabwean slang blends Shona and Ndebele with English into the lively everyday speech of Harare, Bulawayo and beyond. It shows up in Zimdancehall lyrics, campus banter, kombi ranks and social media, and it shifts quickly as each generation puts its own stamp on it. From street corners to WhatsApp groups, it's playful, sharp and full of local flavour. Explore the community-built dictionary of Zimbabwean slang below - and if a word you know is missing, be the first to define it.

means beer,sex and meat
Example

really want some dobenya today,

im gona drown my self in dobenya today

Aku Dante Nayr 22 June 2021
Offensive. Refers to a penis
Example

She just wants umthondo wami

uCrist 03 July 2021
Something very dull, dumb and dangerous
Example

He is a ZANU PF

uCrist 18 July 2021
Breaking into pieces
Example

Ukadonha uno tyoka

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
Love
Example

Anondipa Rudo(She/He gives me love )

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
A person
Example

Ndiye munhu wacho

Meaning: This is the person

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
A bird
Example

Hona shiri

Meaning: Look at that bird

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
Tyoka to break
Example

Susan aka tyoka meaning her leg is broken

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
Rutendo a female given name in Zimbabwe.

It translate to giving praise
Example

We give God Rutendo

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
Being selfish or being flashy
Example

We cant go out with him because ano dada

Scarboy_zw 28 September 2021
In Shona it means powers
Example

Hurumende ine masimba ekuchinja mutemo

Brighton Ngondi 31 August 2022
The feeling of tiredness and or laziness that a person feels when they are slowly sobering up from smoking weed or eating edibles.
Example

I began to go through Butterfly effect after smoking a joint

Yung_B.I.C 26 October 2022

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