African Slang Words Starting With "Z"

Zuku TV

Zuku (Cable TV)

Oshimaliwa / quick money (Money / quick cash)

Zulu (Time)

Political protest slogan | Politieke protes slagspreuk

Horn trumpet

زومبا - Zumba

Dance fitness (Dance fitness)

Zumba (Zumba)

Distrito fronteiriço (Border district)

Zumurrud (Emerald)

Zùn (Forêt/Forest)

Pasea sem rumu (Passear sem rumo) (Wander aimlessly)

Roda/sirku (Roda/círculo) (Circle/round)

Vendedora ambulante (Street vendor - female)

Juntá/uni (Juntar/unir) (Join/unite)

Small change

ዙሪያ/ልብስ (Traditional outfit)

Indrisy / Shoot

Exclamation légère (Light exclamation)

Dia/sol em ndau (Day/sun in Ndau)

Nsuku zonke (everyday)

Jalousie (Jealousy)

زوارة (Zuwara)

Shona for “it’s gone/it has passed” – slang for *“too late, what’s done is done.”*

Things are tough financially

Zvakapfuura (Old times/past)

Zvinhu zverudo (Love matters)

Zviri pedyo nepamba (home area)

Shona phrase roughly “to that extent?” – used rhetorically to express *surprise that something is so extreme*.

Literally “everything in the belt.” Slang for all-inclusive or all in one package.

Izitina (bricks)

Mari yakawanda (A lot of money)

Mabhawa (Bars/clubs)

Shona for “things are firing,” meaning things are lit or happening (very exciting or trending). Often said as a positive...

Saka (so then)

Money

Shona for “it’s there/it exists” – used to say *it’s all good or it’s fine*.

Makadii (How are you?)

Munhu ane uroyi (Witch)

Grain

Prends ta figure, dégage (Take your face, get out)

Zwazo (Bird)

Dimoun ki amenn maler (Troublemaker)

Zwe (Play)

Ndi zwone (It's fine)

Handsome/nice (m)

Slang for “beautiful” or “good.” Doubling it (zwin zwin) adds emphasis like “really good.”. Usage: Had l’auto zwin bzaf,...

Beautiful (masculine/feminine)

Means a very attractive girl (literally “beautiful of a woman”). Usage: His new girlfriend, mashallah, zwina dyal mra, h...