Word of the Day [12 May 2026]

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.

Iqaba

Iqaba is a Nguni term for a barbarian or a person believed to be uncivilised or uncultured.
Plural Amaqaba


They used to call me iqaba because I come from the villages.

Menemene

Imenemene is a traitor or just a crook.


Yho limenemene la sisi.


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.

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.


Mathapelo

Mother of prayer


Woman who pray for people

Tsotsi taal

Township meaning for slang whose direct translation means 'gangster language' 'taal' being the Afrikaans word for language. A huge contribution to this type of slang stem from South African prisons.


He came back from Pollsmoor speaking Tsotsi taal.


Nyisa

Show you flames or to literally make you shit yourself.


Mjolo will nyisa you. 

Mama

Mama is a term used to refer to a mother.


Mama I love you.


oTrap

Look up skrr skrr


These days they like dating oTrap.

Olosho

Prostitute, escort


"That girl na olosho." Meaning "That girl is a prostitute"




© 2020 Africtionary®