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.

South Africa

Mapakisha

A South African slang term for someone with a big butt or nyash.
Example

I don't like squats cause I don' t wanna be a mapakisha.

Skhokho • 01 September 2023
0 0
South Africa
isiXhosa

Haganapayi

Haganapayi or haganapie is a Xhosa slang word that means empty head or idiot.
Example

Don’t tell me about that haganapayi, azithi dadobawo pha.

MXhosa • 29 August 2023
0 0
South Africa
isiXhosa

Rabha

Rabha (pronounced rubber) is a Xhosa slang term for a kiss.
Example

When she got here, ndiye ndamthi rabha.

When she got here, I gave her a kiss.

MXhosa • 29 August 2023
0 0
South Africa
Afrikaans

Jou mase gat

This is an Afrikaans swear term that directly translates to “your mother’s vagina”. It’s similar to jou mase poes.
Example

Voetsek with your nonsense, Jou mase gat.

Danny • 25 August 2023
0 0
South Africa

Cyril Ramaphosa

The most useless president South Africa has ever had.
Example

Things are falling apart in Mzansi because of Cyril Ramaphosa.

CG • 05 August 2023
0 0
South Africa

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..
Example

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

Marcus • 31 July 2023
1 0
South Africa
isiXhosa

Thonqo

Thonqo is a Xhosa slang term for an idiot or a fool.
Example

Haisuka ngu thonqo lo

This is an idiot.

MXhosa • 27 July 2023
0 0
South Africa

Amarherheba

A South African slang term for money.
Example

I can’t wait to get amarherheba month end.

Danny • 24 July 2023
0 0
South Africa

Madibas

A term used in South Africa to refer to money. Madiba is Nelson Mandela's clan name and his face is on the South African bank notes, hence the term.
Example

I can’t come if there’s no Madibas.

Danny • 24 July 2023
0 0
South Africa

Amapiano Colonisers

This is a name given to Nigerians after they tried stealing amapiano from South Africans.
Example

Amapiano colonisers are all over Sunnyside and Hillbrow.

Danny • 24 July 2023
0 0
South Africa

Dintshang

What's going on, what's up
Example

Hey, dintshang?

Thusanang Kennedy • 21 July 2023
0 0
South Africa

Lesufism

The act of pretending to be doing something while doing absolutely nothing. It was perfected by Panyaza Lesufi, Bheki Cele and Fikile Mbalula.



Lesufism involves; a strong PR team, looking busy, taking pictures, and garnering a huge following.
Example

Nothing will happen there, they will just take pictures and address the people. That’s lesufism for you.

Danny • 20 July 2023
0 0

More than 1,400 words... defined by people like you and me!

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