juashanga
n.— «They are adapting their language to local phenomena: for example, laundromat has become “juashanga” (pronounced wash-anga).» —“‘Cuba Libre’ in Miami” by Milton Bracker in Miami, Florida New York Times Aug. 10, 1961. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what’s the flash part of that word about? Also, if you’re a nervous Nellie, you’re skittish and indecisive—both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the...
Sigrin writes from Albany, New York, that she misheard our earlier conversation about the expression shaving yak hair meaning “performing a monotonous, tedious task.” At first she thought we said shaving gnat hair, which she figures is...
From a “Wash & Go” maybe, a possible foreign translation from street speak.