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.

Bhefta is a new Xhosa slang word for vagina. It is a variation of the Xhosa word, Bhentse, which means vagina.
Example

Ndiyayithanda iBhefta take.

Themba 09 January 2025
Unomokhwe is a Xhosa term for a hoe or whore.
Example

I hope la nomokhwe can rest in agony.

Themba 30 December 2024
Magesi is a South African football team that plays in the Betway Premiership. They recently won their first trophy, in their first season in top flight football, by beating Mamelodi Sundowns.
Example

Magesi is here to dominate.

Cody 29 November 2024
Relebohile Mofokeng, formerly known as Relebohile Ratomo is a South African football player who plays for Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana. He is also known as Cocomelon or President yama2000.
Example

Did you see what Relebohile Mofokeng did over the weekend? 😮‍💨

Cody 29 November 2024
Sesotho is the South Sotho language of the Basotho people, an official language in Lesotho and South Africa.
Example

I speak SeSotho at home.

Cody 29 November 2024
Rae Thoma Rae Fetsa is the nickname of the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana player, Relebohile Mofokeng, also known as President yama 2000. The name means "We start it, we finish it" in SeSotho.
Example

Rae Thoma Rae Fetsa, Rae Thoma Rae Fetsa. Wa nyisa boy.

Cody 29 November 2024
What Zulu people call a cellphone that can't connect to the internet and is used strictly for calls and SMSes.
Example

Guy 1: Hey bro, why don't you video call her?

Guy 2: Eish, she uses bhopopo.

27 November 2024
Springboks is the name used to refer to the South African National Rugby Team.
Example

The Springboks are currently number one in the world.

Stanley 19 November 2024
Amabhokobhoko is the name used to refer to the South African men's rugby team (Springboks).
Example

I won't be available this weekend, I will be watching Amabhokobhoko.

Stanley 19 November 2024
a casual , playful relationship with a short term view. usually referring to cheating
Example

Eddie ojola with everyone

Admin 11 November 2024
Another word for food (used commonly by stoners)
Example

....hey bro...after that "session" I'm definitely feeling the munchies.

Theguynextdoor 20 October 2024
Sort of point expanding using only a word "type shii" works perfectly when explaining something
Example

For stoners ( we all how it feels to get the "munchies" after a good blaze type shii

Theguynextdoor 20 October 2024

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