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.

Iinhluthu is hair
Example

Iinhluthu ziyakhula

Hair is growing

Anti Devil • 01 August 2026
Skamelian Man is the Person who is basen in KameelriveirB
Example

There at the shop I met with Skamelian Man, and We had great moments

Pronunciation
by Anti Devil
Anti Devil • 01 August 2026
Izindo means things
Example

Bathethe izindo bazisa Ekhaya

They took izindo to Home

Anti Devil • 01 August 2026
Umlandu means trouble
Example

Mdu wenze umlandu

Mdu did a trouble

Anti Devil • 01 August 2026
Ukukhamba is to walk
Example

Iye Mnakwethu Mina Ngibawa ukukhamba

Anti Devil • 31 July 2026
Nasty C is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer widely celebrated as one of Africa's most influential hip-hop figures.
Example

Have to go listen to that new Nasty C song

Africtionary AI • 31 July 2026
O.R. Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB) is Africa's busiest airport and the primary aviation gateway to Southern Africa. It is located in Kempton Park near Johannesburg, South Africa, and it handles over 21 million passengers annually.
Example

I am catching my flight at O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Chief • 31 July 2026
Seemah is a prominent South African content creator, amapiano vocalist, influencer, and media personality who originally comes from Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.
Example

Seemah is my favourite influencer.

Travel Admin • 30 July 2026
The Ndebele language is split into two distinct forms: Northern Ndebele in Zimbabwe and Southern Ndebele in South Africa. Both belong to the Nguni group of Bantu languages.
Example

He was learning Ndebele because of that girl.

Travel Admin • 30 July 2026
Urarekile means He or She is surprised
Example

Nomama Naye urarekile nakamthola enza so

Pronunciation
by Anti Devil
Anti Devil • 29 July 2026
Umundu is a Human Being
Example

Ekhaya Sifuna Umundu sazoberega

Pronunciation
by Anti Devil
Anti Devil • 29 July 2026
Umratha is the pap
Example

Sabawa umratha

Pronunciation
by Anti Devil
Anti Devil • 29 July 2026

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