shonglish

  1. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Shonglish

    "Chinozi", "Shongrish", or "Shongirishi" means a hybrid language that combines both Chivanhu and the English language together, therefore, coming up with new words and phrases to further enrich an already interesting Zim vernacular. Yu kyan kinda tingk af am az Spanglish, Denglish, etc. For ada...
  2. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Kuma avenues

    kuma avenues means a red light district area where ladies of the night come out in full force during business hours and that's roughly from 9 p.m. to say about 1 a.m. somewhere around there. Note: Sex work in Zimbabwe is currently illegal (i.e., at this time of writing) and there aren't any...
  3. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Cyberchimurenga

    cyberchimurenga means a popular trending feud between two or more popular celebrities, socialites, felebrities, slay queens, or even politicians going at each other online i.e., on social media. Sometimes folks behind a cyberchimurenga are literary fans themselves who think their fave is...
  4. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Simbi haina chubhu

    "Simbi Haina Chubhu" is a ChiShona saying which means whatever you are doing is not going to amount to anything because you are lacking the fundamental understanding about the gravity of the situation at hand. You ought to get to the drawing board and plan about measures you should take in a...
  5. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Hukeyi

    hukeyi means the United Kingdom (or England), but most of the time this excludes Belfast, Scotland, and Wales although sometimes people may use this word interchangeably. In addition, if this word is used in the context of, say, for example, vanhu vekuHukeyi, it primarily refers to Zim folks in...
  6. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Black Mwiri Wese

    means a BMW (Bavarian Motor Works/Bayerische Motoren Werke) automobile. In most cases, this phrase is usually used in reference to the most expensive models of BMW cars instead of the regular degular models the automobile manufacturer has to offer. Because if the BMW automobile in question is...
  7. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Nobarry

    means nobody or no one. It is a combination of kunoza and chiSaladhi, that is, Zimbaz who use this slang term are those who always carry themselves in an exaggerated superficial manner. They are also the type of Zimbos who will pronounce the word photo as [ for - dho ]. And the type of Zimbos...
  8. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Finazi

    finazi means funeral. Note: The formal chiShona words for a funeral are nhamo or mariro, and a person who is deceased is called mushakabvu whilst his or her dead body is called mutumbi or chitunha. With that said, folks in the Republic of Zimbabwe attend funerals for different reasons. There...
  9. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Wastuck, bhagad

    The words "wastuck" and "bhagad" in Zim slang means to be damaged, spoiled or to throw a wrench in the works by disrupting the normal mode of operation. However, 'bhagad' can also be used to refer to a person or when an object falls hard on the ground with a loud banging sound. Alternatively...
  10. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Joki

    means a pass-around groupie, a thigh vendor, a webcam model, or anything along those lines. Related terms Synonyms Hure Hwaga Hoto Jati Jatiwero Njapisi Nzwati Nzenza Nyenye Magan'a Pfambi Sviristina Tsvingu (i.e., only if she's married) Tsvungu (i.e., only if...
  11. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Mai Mwana, Baba Bhoi

    mai mwana Definition: baby mama homegirl or close female friend Note: If you are a man you may call your baby mama Mai Mwana but obviously, you can't just call any random woman that since she isn't a mother to any of your offspring. The second use of Mai Mwana is used by Zimbo women as a...
  12. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Tambo haisi kusvika ku paraffin

    tambo haisi kusvika ku paraffin 1: There isn't enough energy or adequate effort to accomplish a certain objective. 2: sexual frustration experienced by a woman because of a man's microphallus. Background This quote is derived from how a kerosene lamp (or a paraffin lamp) will not light up if...
  13. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Shanks and toyazi

    shanks and toyazi (or toyambi) mean either toilet, restroom, or bathroom. Note: the formal ChiShona word for toilet is chimbuzi. And for interest's sake, most public toilets in Zimbabwe will be labeled as either "vakadzi" or "varume" to indicate how they are designated in terms of sex between...
  14. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Dheng and thanin

    The words "dheng" and "thaning'" in Zim slang both have the same meaning which is: nothing or not a single thing. Note: thaning is pronounced as tharrr-ning. It is basically a reversed and altered form of the word nothing. Ideally, you'd use either one of these words to say that there isn't...
  15. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Kuma dale-dale and rokesheni

    kuma dale-dale means a posh suburb area where rich and wealthy people live enjoying a comfortable luxurious lifestyle without any pressure whatsoever from povho ("people of various opinions"). For example, some of the high-density areas in the Republic of Zimbabwe are Avondale, Borrowdale...
  16. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Sisi bhudhi

    sisi bhudhi means either a person who experiences autogynephilia, a drag queen or a crossdresser very fond of dressing up in silky crotchless panties, something like that. Sisi bhudhi is also partially interchangeable with ngochani because not all crossdressers are bisexual—some claim to be...
  17. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Apa hauna cash

    apa hauna cash Literal meaning: yet you don't have money. Contextual meaning: all you are doing is running your mouth talking a whole lot of nothing yet you don't have the world's most effective medium of communication which is cold hard cash — and surely money answers all things (Ecclesiastes...
  18. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    slang Gundi

    The word "Gundi" is used in Zim slang in reference to Lomagundi College which is located in Old Strip Road Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe. Note: The word "gundi" is pronounced as "Garrr-Ndi." Example Usage: Person 1 "Oan who are we playing next?" Person 2 "We have got Gundi in...
  19. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Zimbo

    means a citizen or anything of Zimbabwean origin. The plural for Zimbo is either Zimbos, maZimba, or maZimbo; in addition, the close synonym for Zimbo is a Shonglish phrase: sadza eater, and directly translated to formal English it means "one who eats mielie pap (or ugali)." Example usage of...
  20. Nolwazi Kwayedza

    Twimbo

    twimbo means a Zimbabwean Twitter user who maintains regular activity, not just someone who does it occasionally like once in a blue moon. Note: The plural for twimbos is either written or pronounced as matwimbo or twimbos. Example usage
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