What does 'Hakuna Matata' mean?

What does “Hakuna Matata” mean? “Hakuna Matata” means “no worries.”

The expression comes from Swahili, an East African language. Literally, hakuna conveys the idea that there is no or there are no, while matata means troubles or worries. Depending on context, the phrase can also be rendered as “no trouble” or “take it easy,” but “no worries” is the familiar translation used in The Lion King.

The 1994 film made the phrase internationally famous through the song taught by Timon and Pumbaa to Simba. Their philosophy urges Simba to stop dwelling on his painful past and embrace a carefree life, although the story later shows that avoiding responsibility cannot solve everything.

The phrase was not invented for Disney. It had already appeared in East African popular music, including the 1983 song “Jambo—Hakuna Matata” by Boney M. Disney’s use brought it to a global audience and later sparked debate over the company’s trademark of the phrase for merchandise.