Browse Zimbabwe Slang

A term for the Generation-Z youth in Zimbabwe (borrowed from South Africa, literally “those born in the 2000s”). Often i...

Money (as in “securing the bag,” making cash – borrowed from global slang).

In Zim slang, 'bag' (often 'chiBag' with a Shona prefix) means a lot of money or a lucrative payoff. Similar to 'secure ...

Street terms for money. Bag or chiBag implies a load of cash

Street terms for money. Bag or chiBag implies a load of cash, while amagan’a (slang plural) means funds.

Old currency

Shona slang derived from 'baza' (bust), meaning to fail or fall short. In street talk, kubhaiza is to go broke or for a ...

From English “okay” (bo). Bho means fine/good, and bholato or bho lakasana intensifies it to “very good”.

Parallel market

Casual term for an older brother or just a guy (from Ndebele *ublez*, brother). Often used to refer to a male peer in a ...

Bond notes (former currency)

Calling someone 'Boss' (or in Shona, pfesi meaning big man) on the street is acknowledging their high-roller status. In ...

In Zimbabwe's financial slang, 'burning money' referred to exploiting currency arbitrage during hyperinflation. People w...

Exchanging currency

Physical money

Affordable

Slang meaning “intense effort” or sometimes “force.” Often used in soccer to mean playing with full force.

Wealth/money

A slang term for “weed” or marijuana (Shona/Ndebele youth slang).

Money changer

Slang meaning *to fall down flat* or be knocked down (from Shona, like hitting the ground).

Slang for a dumb or cowardly person (Northern Zimbabwe slang, possibly from “dirty”).

Mobile money

Slang for “flashy” or “extravagant” (like flamboyant).

Foreign currency

US dollars

A scam or to scam, also refers to a conman (term popularized by urban slang for swindlers).

Slang for “stories” or “gossip” (from Shona *ngano* or street corruption of “go on”). Popularized by urban youth.

Shona for “it’s not there” – used to say *no way/it’s not possible*.

Means “sheep” in Shona, used as slang for someone who is timid or cowardly (like calling someone a sheep).

Currency devaluation

Slang phrase meaning “to skip bathing” (mix of Nyanja/Chewa *jamba* for skip and *bhavhu* for bath).

From “jersey,” used to mean “cool” or great, especially referencing clothing/style.

Slang for a special girl or one’s girlfriend (used in urban youth slang; sometimes also “koso”).

In Shona, literally “to stab,” but slang-wise used to mean *to leave/escape*.

To pay

To be robbed

To change money

To be expensive

To be broke

A Shona slang term meaning improvising or hustling in desperate times. It's about making do with whatever resources avai...

To borrow

To lend

Means to con or swindle; a guma guma is a hustler who scams people.

To be poor

Shona: to freeload or capitalize without contributing. If you attend a braai empty-handed to just eat, wanga onorera.

To finish money

Literally “to go crazy with happiness,” meaning to have a blast.

To be rich

To organize money