Nkunzi

Nkunzi is a Xhosa term for a male animal. It is also often used to refer to a person, obviously male.


Ndifuna ukuthetha inkunzi yebhokhwe.

I want to buy a male goat.



Woto Woto

Often heard in football commentary, woto woto describes relentless attack or punishment. In casual conversations, it’s used to describe someone who’s taking a figurative “beating” in an argument or facing harsh circumstances.


"The strikers gave him woto woto" implies they played aggressively, leaving no room for escape.



Valaza

Valaza is the nickname of Valentines Day. You know South Africans like shortening words.


I need to find a date for Valaza next year.



Sotho

Sotho or Sesotho is a language spoken in Lesotho and South Africa. It is similar to Sepedi and Setswana.


I met a beautiful girl who was speaking Sotho.



Dijo

Dijo is a Sotho term for food.


Ke batla dijo.

I want food.



Plumber

In South African football, the term "plumber" is a derogatory slang used to describe a coach, often a foreign one, perceived as underperforming or lacking the intellectual or tactical acumen to succeed in the sport. It implies a coach is more suited to a trade like plumbing than managing a football team.


I see Orlando Pirates just hired a plumber to replace Riveiro.



Mbudlu-mbudlu

Imbudlu-mbudlu is a Xhosa colloquial term for a chubby or fat person.


Did you see him, yimbudlu-middle after he got a job.



Robot

How South Africans say “traffic lights” because “traffic lights” is too long and doesn’t sound futuristic enough.


No one:

Passenger in a taxi: After robot, driver.



ilolo

ilolo is a Xhosa term for a loner.


Mna ndililolo, andinamntu.

I am a loner, I have no one.



Smayo

Ismayo is a Zulu slang term for vagina.


Ngifuna sona ismayo tonight.




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