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.

A fictitious story or a tale. Like those tales you'd hear about from parents/teachers/friends or read when you were younger.
Example

"A man and his daughter were walking in the forest..."
Welele... inganekwane!

DRex 10 August 2022
Marijuana, weed
Example

We smoked nkantina last night

60Daze 08 August 2022
A tin can.
Example

Pass us the blikkie, bru.

bronzie94 03 August 2022
Last number is a Kasi term for the best of the best, the top of the range, top class.
Example

I'm buying the last number Kota.

OD 16 July 2022
Amazaza is a South African slang term for Sunglasses.
Example

Why are you wearing amazaza at night?

Skhokho 02 July 2022
Mpesu is a substance made from the bark of the Securidaca longipedunculata tree, which aids men in terms of obtaining an erection and other sexual problems such as weak eraction, early ejaculation, low sex drive. Mpesa can be Mpesu
Example

/ɪmˈpɛsu/
My friend uses mpesu

Ukutula-tula is isiBhaca word meaning to wander around.
Example

Ebetula-tula yonke indzawo.

He was wandering all over the place

Thobelani Ncapai 27 June 2022
Gurans is a slang term used by Cape Town Xhosa speaking community that means war between rival gangs or individuals.
Example

Ingathi ikhona igurans between lamajita.

It looks like there is some war/conflict between those guys.

Yanga CPT 27 June 2022
A tradition in South Africa that celebrates the end of exam season. It loosely translates to "washing the paper".
High school kids typically go on a drinking spree (underage drinking).
Example

I can't wait for the exams to finish so that sizokuhlamba iphepha.

Sinazo 26 June 2022
ASAP is an acronym for As Soon As Possible.
Example

I need to see you ASAP.

OD 22 June 2022
Isgaxa or isigaxa means Big news, like WOW, like Yhoo, like I don't believe it.
Example

Everyday is a new sgaxa, I've run out of haibos.

Sinazo 22 June 2022
After 9 is a term used to refer to men who act straight but are secretly gay or homosexual at night (After 9pm).
Example

Ma after 9 are always after my friend at groove.

CG 20 June 2022

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