S'numnum

Used to describe someone who tends to do stupid things from time to time.


Why did you do that s'numnum?

Sad generation

The generation of people who are sad during the week and extremely happy on weekends. You will see them with their Savannas on their heads, dancing to amapiano.


"We are a sad generation with happy pictures"
I am a proud member of the "sad generation".

Salvation

Salvation is a South African rapper and songwriter. He was introduced to the music industry late 2013. The artist started making wonders in a well known genre, Hip Hop as a solo artist and has then evolved from just rapping to being musical and flowing on beautiful melodies of trap-soul.


Salvation is the future of HipHop music

Same WhatsApp group

A phrase that is used to describe similar things, people, behaviors or situations.


ANC supporters and Bushiri supporters - Same WhatsApp group!

Samthandi

Derived from a Xhosa term "andisamthandi" which means I love him/her so much.
Context is very important when it comes to this word because it also means "I no longer love him/her".


Girl: Is that your child there
Guy: Yes, that's my baby girl.
Girl: Yhu samthandi mntkbw

Sandile

A very cool humble guy whom everyone thinks his hot, attractive and liked by many.


My crush is Sandile

Sangoma

A Sangoma is a highly respected healer among the Zulu people of South Africa who diagnoses, prescribes, and often performs the rituals to heal a person physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.


I need to go see a powerful Sangoma.

Saniko

Is a place in ughelli North local Government Area


Let us go to Saniko.

Sapa

A gay person


Voetsek jou sapa!

SAPA

A term used to describe extreme poverty


SAPA don hold my guy

Sapa

Sapa is the state of being broke or not having money or food at your disposal


So finally Sapa don catch this guy
Guy sapa hold me like this no be lie

Sapiosexual

A person who is sexually attracted to a person's intellect or mind before physical appearance. It comes from the Latin root "sapien" which means wise.


I am not into beautiful girls, I am sapiosexual.

Sarha

Ukusarha is a slang term that means you are always asking for things from people. For example, you are always asking for free alcohol, you never buy.


Yho I don't wanna chill with that guy again, uyasharha.

Sauta

Another slang term for South Africa.
Also see South Ah


Madumane: Thank you Sauta for the love.

Savuyi

An informal Xhosa slang term for "I am so happy / I am so excited". It is shortened from "Andisavuyi"


Kaizer Chiefs lost to Chippa Utd today, savuyi mntkbw.

S’ting ting

A useless person or thing. A breathing object


He is not someone who can help you yis’ting- ting.

You can only rob a s’ting ting

Sbhanxa

Sbhanxa or sibhanxa is a Xhosa term for an idiot or a fool.


Yeer usisbhanxa ke khona wena ufunda lewey lol

SBWL

Sbwl is a Xhosa shorthand for “sabaweli”. Sabaweli, which in turn is a shorthand of “andisabaweli, andisayibaweli, etc.”, is built from the root word “ukubawela” which means to crave, want, desire, wish for, fancy, yearn, etc.


1. Umntu wakho xa ebona mna, uthi sbwl. >> When your person sees me, s/he says sbwl.

2. Sbwl beer today.

3. Sbwl the coronavirus to just disappear. 

Sbwl

Sbwl is an acronym, and slang for the Xhosa language, which originated from the South African word “ sabaweli”; the meaning of the word was, “ crave, desire, yearn or to want something”.

On social media; is meant to have been created by “gay Xhosa men “ to hide their desire for a woman's man on social media.


1. Sbwl a good man.

2. Sbwl a man with a lot of money

Sdudla

A Kasi term for a chubby or a fat person.


Eish that girl sisdudla and I love her.

Sekisi

A very weird way of spelling Sex. These people do it on social media.


I thought they broke up a long time ago only to find out they still have sekisi everyday.

Sembi

Sembi is a Xhosa social media term that means ugly or bad.
Mbi in Xhosa means ugly when referring to a person and means bad when referring to a situation.


Me posting a picture of my child:
Facebook friends: Sembi bundle of joy wakho mntkbw.

Sepitori

Also known as S'Pitori, is the language spoken by native people of Pretoria (Pitori). It is a combination of Pedi and Tswana, with a bit of Tsotsi taal.


I speak a bit of Tswana plus sepitori.

SeSotho

Sesotho is the South Sotho language of the Basotho people, an official language in Lesotho and South Africa.


I speak SeSotho at home.

Sfebe

The Kasi term for a whore or hoe.


This girl ke sfebe.

Sfebenist

A sfebe that hides behind being a feminist but do sfebe things behind closed doors.


That one is just pretending to be a feminist. She actually is a sfebenist.

Sgantsontso

Isgantsontso is a buff person, more like a sgora.


Nonsense, utsho ngoba sisgantsontso

Sgaqagaqa

Is a South African term for a tough guy or sgora.


I see you go to the gym now Sgaqagaqa

Sgaxa

Isgaxa or isigaxa means Big news, like WOW, like Yhoo, like I don't believe it.


Everyday is a new sgaxa, I've run out of haibos.

Sgela

The word referring any form of educational institution, from pre-school all the way to University.


Did you go to Sgela? Did you go to School?

Sgora

A buff guy / those big guys at the gym.


He has become a sgora now, the gym is helping him.

Shambula

This is a Kasi term for a very attractive lady.


Dai girl li shambula 🔥

Shandapha

A term that is used to refer to a beautiful woman.
Can also be spelt as chandapha.


yoh this girl ke shandapha.

Shandis

A term used to refer to "something" or a thing.


Have you seen that shandis?

Sharist

Sharists are those people who spend their time on Facebook just sharing posts. They are usually single, hence all the free time to bore us with their useless posts.


Ever since they dumped her, she's been a big sharist on Facebook.

Shebeen

Illegal drinking place. In South Africa, it refers to unlicensed bars in Kasi and has become a mainstream word.


I last saw him drinking Zamalek at the shebeen yesterday.

Shela

A Zulu word for asking a girl/guy out.


Ladies must also shela now. #WomenHaveToShela

Sheleni

Sheleni is a slang term for R0.10 (ten cents).


I'm so broke I don't even have isheleni under my name.

Shibobo

A soccer skill/move where a player puts the ball in between another player's legs.


Did you see that shibobo from Messi?

Shiri

A bird


Hona shiri
Meaning: Look at that bird

Shisa Nyama

Of Zulu origin, this directly translates to "burn meat". It is the Zulu equivalent to a braai. In most cases, it refers to a place that sells and "braais" meet.


Let's go braai some meat at that Shisa Nyama.

Shithole

A slang in Cameroon which mean ass or buttocks


Bakossi girls them over get big shithole

shlama

meaning shit that comes out of your anus (ndunu)


have uyishlama wena.(you are shit)
siyaphuma ishlama lapho.(is the shit coming out there)

Should of

The incorrect way of spelling "should have"


Should of known you was trouble from the first kiss.

Show me your number

Show me your number is a popular soccer/football skill in South Africa, where the player pretends to shoot the ball and the defender ducks, hence showing his/her number to the attacker.


They hit him with a “show me your number” and the crowd went crazy.

Sibeko

Sibeko is a term that has been used to refer to a drunkard. This is due to a character from the famous South African sitcom, Emzini wezinsizwa, who was always drunk.
Now Sibeko is synonymous for drunkard.


Why did you give him money, don't you know he's a Sibeko?

Side chick

A side chick is a girl that is being dated by a guy who is in a serious relationship with someone else (main chick).


The girl he was with is his side chick.

Sidl'ukotini

Directly translates to: We are eating cotton. This is a statement said when you feel that you've dressed to impress or you dress nicely in general.


"Sidl'ukotini kwedini, cava le jean kwedini" - Rick Rick

Sikiphiko

To ukusikiphiko is when you are in the front seat of a car and have your elbow outside of the window.


Did you see him in his friend's car, ebesikiphiko and pretending not to see us.

Simahla

A Xhosa term that means for nothing. Free; obtained without payment or difficulty.


Buy 1 drink and get the second one simahla.

Singo

A beautiful girl

A girl


Singo winya okuna ondjee

Sisekakeni

Sisekakeni is a general Xhosa phrase that means we are in trouble. It directly translates to "we are in shit" or "we are in deep shit"


Friend: The petrol prices went up again.
Me: Sisekakeni

Sishumane

Isishumane or sishimane is a South African term used to refer to a single person who is not single by choice. It is mostly used in a mocking manner.


Aisuka, that one sisishumane esikhulu.

Sister Betina

The South African National Anthem, written and performed by our very own, Mgarimbe.


They all lost their minds when Sister Betina started playing.

Situationship

A situationship is a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.


I’m considering turning my situationship into a relationship.

Sizwe Dhlomo

Sizwe Dhlomo is a South African tweleb and part time radio show host. He is always giving “expert” opinion on every topic on X, formerly Twitter, which inspired the term Dhloogle.


“I know it’s correct cause Sizwe Dhlomo said it” - said no one ever.

Sjura

Sjura is a derogatory Xhosa slang term for a whore or hoe.


Hayi Maan sisjura lewey

Skaftin

A lunchbox; a portable, usually plastic, container for food, such as Tupperware.
Also occurs as skaftien, skhafthin


Plase bring a skaftin, I want to put my leftovers. 

Skelm

A Skelm is a South African term for a tsotsi, rascal, thief, crook, all the baf things.


Get out of here, you skelm.

Skhaftin

A lady who has interactions with multiple males


That lady is a skhaftin last week she was with a different guy

Skhebereshe

Iskhebereshe is a South African slang term for a whore or sfebe.


You need to stay away from that skhebereshe.

Skoli

Skoli is a term mostly use in Cape Town that means a thief.


You should be careful when walking here, there's a lot of skolis.

Skomora

Is a term that means jerking off or masturbating.


I caught my little brother eskomora.

Skoon

Having sex without a condom.


I'm going in there skoon baba.

Skopari

A skopari is a slang term for a loan shark. It is mostly used in the Gqeberha region.


As soon as he gets paid, his money goes to iskopari.

Skopas

Term mostly used in the Northern parts of the country to refer to sweet flavoured and coloured popcorns.
Some parts of the country call them amaKip-kip


I bought my nephews some skopas from the Spaza shop.

Skorokoro

A term that is used to refer to a very old car.


Push iskorokoro.

Skrr skrr

Are mostly ama2000 and you will see them with their weird clothes, American accent, dreads with a fade or just a clean fade and they listen to weird Hip Hop songs. They always want to be seen and are very hard to miss.
They are the same WhatsApp group with cheese boys.


1. I knew he was a skrr skrr just from the way he was dressed.
2. Skrr skrr niggas will break your heart and help you through the heartbreak then break it again.

Skrr skrr nigger

Skrr skrr niggers are mostly born in 2000 .. They wear weird clothes and walk around high thinking they belong in america.. Mostly they are identified by their slung accent , nick names like ayc durk, black dugger or yng notolious .. And they listen to weird hip hop musics.. Mostly made in this generation thinking that they made it in life and also tend to think like they are similar to their favourite rapper.. One of the most favourite rapper of these screw screw niggers is j cole..


Hes a skrr skrr nigger that's why he speaks in that way..

She realised that hes a skrr skrr nigger after he broke up with her

Sky Daddy

Sky Daddy is a term used to refer to God.


I had to speak to Sky Daddy yesterday when I wasn't feeling good.

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.

Skyf

Skyf is the moment you pass the cigarette from the owner to the parasite.


Please skyf nkawza

Slatsa

1. Refers to a stupid/childish person.


"ejoh wena o slatsa!"
"bro you're stupid"

Slay queen

Young and naive girls who apparently do not date broke men. They spend hours on Snapchat and Instagram showing off things they don't even own.


Sandton slay queens are the worst, they will milk you dry then run way.

Slimes

Slimes are die hard fans of A-Reece. He is known to have a cult-like following.


Slimes will bite your head off if you say something negative about A-Reece

Smeme

A loyal friend


Si smeme sam ke esi

Smonday

The moment Sunday stops feeling like a Sunday and the anxiety of Monday kicks in.


It’s starting to feel like Smonday now 😭

Sneaky Link

Sneaky Link is a term used to describe a person that someone is secretly hooking up with.


I can’t wait to see my Sneaky Link this weekend.

Snxl

Derived from Xhosa term "Andisenxile" which means I am so drunk. It is mostly used by girls on social to indicate that they've had too much to drink.
Can also be spelled as senxl.


Yho snxl kamnandi mntkbw.

Sol Phenduka

Sol Phenduka is a South African Podcaster, DJ and Radio personality who is the co-host of the popular podcast called Podcast and Chill, alongside MacG and Ghost Lady.


I always listen to the Podcast and Chill for Sol Phenduka's puns.

Somagwaza

Somagwaza, is a rather mysterious, if not mythical, forefather who invented circumcision as a means of passage into manhood for Xhosa people.


I'm sure you didn't know who Somagwaza was 😅

Somagwaza

A rather mysterious, if not mythical, forefather who invented circumcision as a means of passage into manhood for amaXhosa.


Sibulela uSomagwaza.

We thank Somagwaza.

Somizi

A revered gay celebrity (Somizi Mhlongo) in South Africa. The name has come to identify a gay person.


Girl 1: Check out that fine guy in a blue shirt.
Girl 2: Don't even bother, he's a Somizi.

Sondela

Sondela is a Xhosa term that means come closer.


Sondela, sthandwa, sondela.

Sosh Plata

Sosh Plata refers to the customised number plate with a smaller/different font & font size, which makes it more appealing to the eye. It makes the car look cleaner & sexier. Also known as: illegal plata // Stance number plate // sosha plata.


ah mfanaka ko botsa nka kreya dai Golf, fetsa kere Sosh 'plata ah ema nyana joh!"

(boy I am telling you, if I get that Golf, then put that illegal plata on it, its gonna break necks!)

Soshanguve

Soshanguve is a township situated about 30 km north of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, just east of Mabopane. The name Soshanguve is an acronym for Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni and Venda, thus showing the multi-ethnic composition of the population.


If you can make it in Soshanguve, you can make it anywhere.

South Africa

South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent.


I was born and bred in South Africa.

South Ah

Another slang term for South Africa, mostly used in Social Media.


Twitter post caption: It can only be South Ah

Soweto

The biggest township in South Africa which is located in the Gauteng province.


I am from the dusty streets of Soweto.

Spani

Its a word used to replace job


I need to get a small spani just for the moment

Spaza

Not to be confused with Spaza shop... Is the name used to refer to Xhosa rap or Xhosa hip hop. It is not clear how the name went from being a kasi shop to a music genre.


You know guys from cape Town like listening to Spaza music.

Spaza shop

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


Go buy some bread at the spaza shop.

Speke

A well shaped, clean and attractive girl


I saw a speke

Spinza

Word meaning drink, any type of drink and mostly biased towards alcohol drinks.


uspinza ini? What are you drinking?

Springboks

Springboks is the name used to refer to the South African National Rugby Team.


The Springboks are currently number one in the world.

Stabane

Istabane or isitabane is a derogatory term for a gay person.


Dai man ke stabane.
That man is gay.

Sthandwa

Sthandwa means “my love” or “baby”.


I love you, sthandwa.

Stina

This is a slang word for R1000, that is 1 thousand South African rands.
The literal meaning of Stina is brick (in Zulu)


I only need 2 stina then I’ll be fine.

Stlamatlama

Also known as babalaas is hangover.


Stlamatlama is killing me today.

Stocko

Used to define a beautiful girl with nyash,like your imaginary hun


That hun is a stocko

Stocko

The term refers to a woman or women who are identified as being available for the pleasure and entertainment of men.


John vul'igate, nasi istocko.
John open the gate, we have the stocko.

Stockvel

A stokvel is a savings pool where a group of individuals contribute an agreed-upon monthly amount. The group have full control of how they would like to use that money. Two common methods are to pay out monthly or annually. The group can make monthly pay-outs, or they could keep investing their savings and get a lump sum at the end of the year.


I have joined a stockvel with the members of my community where we get monthly payouts.

Stokoloko

Stokoloko is a Xhosa informal term for a "dog without teeth". The term can be used to refer to someone who is not a threat.


Haisuka ngu stokoloko lo, inja engenamazinyo.

Stop Nonsense

Stop nonsense ekasi are those walls that are built around the house (fence) mostly for security reasons cause you know how it is with crime in Mzansi.


They climbed the stop nonsense and stole the dog

Street Champion

A street winner


Flex is The Street Champion

Street Kid

Street kid is a term used in South Africa to refer to homeless kids, living on the streets.


I almost a became a street kid when I lost my mother.

Stresslaxing

(v.) Being stressed that relaxing makes you more stressed because you are not working on what's making you stressed.


Don't mind him, he is stresslaxing.

Stufuza

Stufuza is a term for a chubby person.


I like my man as a stufuza.

Sugar mama

An older woman who prefers to date younger boys and usually spends money on them.
A female version of a blesser


I really need a new sugar mama who's gonna pay my rent.

Swazi

Weed from Swaziland that is very potent.


Come let's smoke, I've got some swazi here.

Swi

Swi is a Zimbabwean slang term for Alright/Fine.


The poem you wrote ibinguswi

Have another definition for Swi? Click to define it!


© 2020 Africtionary®