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.

Add a South African word

South Africa

isiXhosa

Dispa

Dispa is a Xhosa slang term that means to sleep.

Example

Sure boss, ndisayo dispa ngoku.

Sure boss, I am going to sleep now.

MXhosa • 02 March 2023

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South Africa

Sheleni

Sheleni is a slang term for R0.10 (ten cents).

Example

I'm so broke I don't even have isheleni under my name.

Siya • 28 February 2023

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South Africa

Slimes

Slimes are die hard fans of A-Reece. He is known to have a cult-like following.

Example

Slimes will bite your head off if you say something negative about A-Reece

Siya • 24 February 2023

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South Africa

Domkop

A domkop is a name given to someone who is an idiot.

Example

You can be a domkop sometimes 🤦🏽‍♂️

Siya • 22 February 2023

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South Africa

Skopari

A skopari is a slang term for a loan shark. It is mostly used in the Gqeberha region.

Example

As soon as he gets paid, his money goes to iskopari.

MXhosa • 21 February 2023

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South Africa

Shambula

This is a Kasi term for a very attractive lady.

Example

Dai girl li shambula 🔥

CG • 16 February 2023

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South Africa

isiXhosa

Intsomi

Intsomi is a Xhosa term for a tale. Those stories our grandparents used to tell us when we were young.

Example

Hayi yintsomi, Hayi yi film.

MXhosa • 16 February 2023

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South Africa

Barcadi

A type of House Music that’s popular in Pitori.

Example

I will choose Barcadi over Amapiano any day.

Skhokho • 15 February 2023

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South Africa

Stufuza

Stufuza is a term for a chubby person.

Example

I like my man as a stufuza.

Sinazo • 18 January 2023

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South Africa

Welele

Its more of a word of disbelief or a lie example when someone says something like"oh i'm sure she's a humble girl and doesn't do thing like other people her age" but you know that's not true it like you know something but instead you use the phase "welele" to like tell the other person that it's not true or it's a lie

Example

"Did you hear that she broke up with her boyfriend again" then someone says "welele" in disbelief

Florida • 11 January 2023

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South Africa