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.

Tsek is a shortened version of Voetsek, an insulting dismissal or exclamation of disgust.
Example

Tsek wena, I don't want to talk to you.

MzansiEdits 28 April 2025
Iqobelo is a term that means something is real or authentic.
Example

Come buy from me, I only sell iqobelo.

Percy 28 April 2025
A South African term that denotes that a person or thing that is authentic, real, or legitimate.
Example

Zambuk is the real makoya.

MzansiEdits 28 April 2025
An exclamation used to congratulate someone, honour or praise someone or something, or to express joy or celebration; ‘Bravo!’, ‘Hooray!’.
Example

Halala, siyakubongela sisi.

MzansiEdits 28 April 2025
Khaltsha is a term that is used to refer to the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
Example

Masambe siye eKhaltsha, mfowethu.

Percy 27 April 2025
Gugs is a shortened term that referes to the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town.
Example

Ndiphuma eGugs

Percy 27 April 2025
Gugulethu is a township in Western Cape, South Africa and is around 20km from Cape Town. Its name is a contraction of igugu lethu, which is Xhosa for our pride / our hope.
Example

When i visit Cape Town, I make sure I go to Gugulethu.

Percy 27 April 2025
Kapa is the Xhosa name for Cape Town.
Example

Ndiphuma eKapa mna.

Percy 27 April 2025
A cylon is a term generally used in Gqeberha that means a crazy person or a psycho.
Example

Yi cylon maan lawey.

Percy 27 April 2025

PSL

PSL is the acronym for Premier Soccer League, which is the South African top flight soccer/football league.
Example

We can't let Mamelodi Sundowns win the PSL title again 🤦🏾‍♂️

Percy 27 April 2025
A hype man is the guy or girl whom is essentially the MC at a club. They usually have the mic and hype the crowd up.
Example

That hype man from yesterday was good 🔥

CG 25 April 2025
Street kid is a term used in South Africa to refer to homeless kids, living on the streets.
Example

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

Yanga CPT 25 April 2025

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