(South Africa) A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.
(South Africa) A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.
Zama-zama means: A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Zama-zama means: A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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(South Africa, slang) Money.
South African slang for a cannabis cigarette or joint. Widely used in South African English across racial and cultural communities, it is one of the most recognizable terms in South African cannabis slang. The word carries a casual, street-level register and is typically used without particular emphasis on the drug's illegality or otherwise — it's simply the everyday word for a joint in South African usage.
(US, slang) Cash, money.
South African slang for money or cash, with origins in the old sixpence coin (also called a 'zak'). The word has broadened from referring to a specific small coin to money generally, though it often retains a connotation of small or insignificant amounts. Used informally across South African English by speakers of all backgrounds. The sixpence was also called a 'zak' specifically.
zama-zama means: A person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals.. Register: informal, South African English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.