Chineke

Chineke is the creator of the universe and everything good in it along with rain, trees, and other plants

Chineke, I can't believe I failed.

Molweni

A Xhosa greeting used to greet multiple people. You use molo to greet one person.

Molweni bantu abadala.

Main Chick

The girl who is in a serious relationship with a guy, but that guy is casually dating other people (side chick).

I don't care what he does oksalayo I am the main chick.

Amaberete

A term used to refer to the South African Tactical Response Team.
Those cops that wear berets and moer people.

He was moered by amaberete, that's why he is behaving now.

Hhayi bo (haibo)

It is not Xhosa but Zulu phrase meaning to disapprove an act. It goes together with phrases like, kahle no, musa bo, woza bo, mana no, etc

Hhayi bo wnzani?

Mfethu

Mfethu is a Nguni term, short for mfowethu, meaning my brother. It is generally used to refer to a man, doesn’t have to be related to you.

Dankie for featuring me, mfethu.

Pronunciation:

Patla

Someone who is not good at something

Chomi ya ka ke patla ka bolo

Spaza shop

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

Go buy some bread at the spaza shop.

7 Colours

A meal that is generally cooked on Sundays in many households across Mzansi. It is coined as 7 colours because it comprises a lot of colourful ingredients; a mix of vegetables, starch and meat that make up various colours.

I went home last weekend and my highlight was the 7 colours oledi cooked.

Tsotsi

This is a general kasi term for a criminal.

He got mugged by some Tsotsi from town.