South Africa Slang Dictionary

South African slang is a rich, multilingual mix that borrows freely from the country's eleven official languages - isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sesotho and more - plus street languages like tsotsitaal and Sepitori. It's the language of the townships, the taxi rank, kwaito and amapiano, and everyday Mzansi life from Joburg to Cape Town to Durban. Words like eish, howzit, lekker, sharp sharp and yebo are woven into how South Africans speak every day. Explore the community-built dictionary of South African slang below - and add the words you know.

Its a word used to replace job
Example

I need to get a small spani just for the moment

BkayGee 21 May 2021
This is the most common curse word, mostly used to chase a dog away.

Some may spell it as Tsek
Example

Hey voetsek wena spottie. Go away.

Chief 10 July 2020
G-Town is another name for Grahamstown (Makanda).
Example

I can't wait to go back to G-Town and see the homies...

Chief 23 May 2025
Grigamba is a derogatory term used in South Africa to refer to a foreigner.
Example

She really likes going out with ama grigamba.

Chief 18 September 2024
Kwaal is a slang term that means a problem or a conflict.
Example

Why does he have kwaal with him?

Chief 11 May 2022
This is a Xhosa figure of speech that describes hunger or poverty. It directly translate to "a cat is sleeping in the fire (cooking) place (or stove if you may say)". So the cat is sleeping where people are supposed to be cooking because there's no fire and no food to cook.
Example

Grandma had to send the kids back to their mothers because ikati ilele eziko.

MXhosa 18 May 2021
A term Xhosa people use to refer to those small cellphones with no internet. Those phones you just use for calls and sms. They call it lepopotane in SePitori.
Example

Yho mntase I saw his tilili hidden in the spare wheel of his car. Caba he didn't want me to see that he uses it for his hoes.

Mr Trends 21 July 2020
Kasi term that refers to soccer/football.
Example

Everyone in my neighbourhood loves diski.

Sinazo 20 July 2020
A colloquial term to greet someone, synonymous with "hello",”hi”, β€œhey”.
Example

Eita my brother, dintshang?

Mr Trends 10 July 2020
The guy who buys the alcohol and make sure that everyone is taken care of.
Example

If you still want to drink, please o ska bora moreki my sister.

Chief 10 July 2020
It’s chai is a South African slang term for it’s over.
Example

The game is almost over and the score 5-0. Ay it’s chai for for that team.

Danny 10 July 2026
21:01 is a term that is used to refer to an after 9 - a secretly gay person.
Example

I have so many stories about the 21:01 gang.

Chief 23 May 2025

© 2020 Africtionary®