Lepyatla

This term is commonly used to refer to a very beautiful and attractive girl. This word originates from S'pitori, commonly known as Pretoria.


Tjo ngwana ona na ke lepyatla.



Spaza shop

An informal convenience store, usually run from home or some corner in the neighbourhood.


Go buy some bread at the spaza shop.



Tsotsi

This is a general kasi term for a criminal.


He got mugged by some Tsotsi from town.



Tsotsi Taal

The term directly translate to "Criminal language". This is a vernacular derived from a variety of mixed languages, mainly spoken in the townships all over South Africa.

Each Kasi has its own tsotsi taal or its own way of speaking, meaning tsotsi taal from Soweto might differ from that of Pitori.


Teacher: You cannot speak that Tsotsi Taal in my class. Here we speak proper English.



1818

The lethal vodka that is produced by Sminnorf.


She was downing 1818, that's why she's this drunk.



Ayisecace

A Xhosa term for "It's so obvious". It is mostly used when someone asks something that is very obvious.


Girl 1: I know it's lockdown, but are you really going to buy a Smirnoff 1818 for R500?

Girl 2: Ayisecace mntase



Kasi

A South African slang term for township.


I come form ekasi.



Fede

A term generally used as an informal greeting around Gauteng. Chances are no one will know how to reply to you if you use this term anywhere other than Gauteng.


Sharp fede majita, dintshang da?



Hoezit

Slang word for "how is it". It comes from the Afrikaans term "Hoe is dit" and people just decided to change the spelling.


Man 1: Eita da, hoezit?

Man 2: Sharp hoezit da?

Man 1: Fede nja yami.



Diski

Kasi term that refers to soccer/football.


Everyone in my neighbourhood loves diski.




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