The term is derived from the French phrase "je m'en fous" (foutre). The French expression Je m'en fous became known by the Greeks before World War II, when the French language was the most common foreign language in Greece. It was later adopted into everyday slang vocabulary, with Greek spelling and pronunciation. It is roughly equivalent to the English 'I don't care'.

The associated term "ochaderfismos" derives from the Greek phrase "oh brother!" (ωχ αδερφέ!).

Although zamanfou might be considered a social phenomenon in Greece, it is no different from social loafing, as this appears in other cultures or epochs.

• "Zamanfou" is the title of a Greek song by Sakis Boulas.
• "Zamanfou" is the title of a Greek hip-hop song by the rapper Eisvoleas.
• Zamanfou was the title of a Greek TV show by Annita Pania.
• "Zamanfou" is the title of a Greek hip-hop song by the rapper Taraxias featuring Sakis Boulas and Vasia Patrikarea (new version of the Sakis Boulas song).

• Social loafing
• Nihilism
• Cynicism
• Ethical egoism
• Apathy