Lesotho

A mountainous Southern African kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa, known for textiles.


Lesotho is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters elevation.



Thuso Phala

Thuso Phala is a popular dance move that was first started by the South African soccer player named Thuso Phala.


I'm learning the Thuso Phala dance.



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?



Inganekwane

A fictitious story or a tale. Like those tales you'd hear about from parents/teachers/friends or read when you were younger.


"A man and his daughter were walking in the forest..."
Welele... inganekwane!



Bergie

A derogatory term, originally referred to homeless people who sheltered in the forests of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. It’s now a derogatory word for homeless people in general.


He left home now he is a bergie.



Jumpas

Jumpas means later on.


I will see you jumpas.



Skyf

South African slang term for “Please give/pass me”, pronounced as Sk-ey-f.

You don’t use an article (a, an or the) after the word. You just place the subject(what you want) directly after.


Please skyf pipe there. I wanna smoke quick.



Dumpie

A dumpie is a term that refers to a 340ml beer or cider.


I prefer drinking dumpie over a ngudu.



Mzantsi

The colloquial term used by us South Africans to refer to our country. It is the Xhosa word for the "South" part in South Africa. The full word is Mzantsi Africa. "South Africa".


I stay in Mzantsi and proud of it.



Voke

To tease or make fun of


Please don’t voke me.




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