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.

Ikaka is a Xhosa term for shit or feces.
Example

Uthetha Ikaka.

You are talking shit.

MXhosa 13 October 2022
Ithuvi is a Xhosa slang term for shit or kaka.
Example

Uthetha ithuvi.

You are talking shit.

MXhosa 13 October 2022
IsiXhosa is a Nguni language that is spoken in South Africa and some parts of Zimbabwe. It is the language with the clicks.
Example

Ndithetha isiXhosa ekhaya.

I speak Xhosa at home.

MXhosa 12 October 2022
Ingqithi is a Xhosa custom of amputating the joint of the little finger, or of the ring finger on babies and sometimes adults.
Example

My finger is like this because I have ingqithi.

MXhosa 12 October 2022
Dagga is the term we use in South Africa to refer to weed.
Example

I can't wait to get home and smoke my dagga.

LinguistZA 12 October 2022
Fatcake filled with chicken livers, mince or vegetables
Example

Andiwuthandi lona umdundu.

Peekay 08 October 2022
Drop is a Kasi term for gonorrhea (a type of STI).
Example

He got a drop after sleeping with that girl last week.

Skhokho 06 October 2022
Nothern Sotho word, popular in Limpopo use to describe a beautiful girl.
Example

That girl is hot gents. Ke Letsabitsa.

Sir Austine D. 03 October 2022
1. Refers to a stupid/childish person.
Example

"ejoh wena o slatsa!"

"bro you're stupid"

Tebogo 01 October 2022
Jollof boys is a name given to Nigerian men in South Africa.
Example

Who drives that Range Rover.

It's owned by this other Jollof boy who works in Hillbrow.

DRex 28 September 2022
Jollofina is a name given to South African women who are dating Nigerian men.
Example

She has all this money because she's dating Jollof boys. She's a Jollofina.

DRex 28 September 2022
Ukuqabula is an informal Xhosa term for taking out babalaas. Basically the act of drinking the morning after a heavy night of drinking.
Example

I'm dying from babalaas now, ndifuna ukuqabula.

MXhosa 27 September 2022

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