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.

It's a Zulu word that describes that a person is emotionally damaged.
Example

Umjolo nyised my friend

Thiizo Phumlanii Hlalu 25 April 2022
Is to buy WEED, this term started in Mamelodi now is a common word around Pitori.
Example

Bro, Vraiza ujike ko Jeff uTokantse baart

Thulani Mabuza 22 April 2022
Somagwaza, is a rather mysterious, if not mythical, forefather who invented circumcision as a means of passage into manhood for Xhosa people.
Example

I'm sure you didn't know who Somagwaza was 😅

MXhosa 19 April 2022
Sphokazi's girlfriend who is extremely gorgeous and funny- dash of sluttism.
Example

Have a day as beautiful as Umntu Ka Sphokazi

Mike 19 April 2022
Maskandi is a kind of Zulu folk music / genre that is dominant amongst the Zulu population of South Africa.
Example

I enjoy listening to Maskandi

My favourite Maskandi artist is Mgqumeni

Chief 18 April 2022
"Hello"; also used before combat. Example in combat: Hosh, jy raak wys ("Hello, show me what you made of"). This gang-related word occurs inside as well as outside of prison: use at own discretion
Example

Hosh nongoloza, come here.

Mbali 18 April 2022
Illegal drinking place. In South Africa, it refers to unlicensed bars in Kasi and has become a mainstream word.
Example

I last saw him drinking Zamalek at the shebeen yesterday.

MXhosa 18 April 2022
Khemi is a general slang term for muthi or traditional medicine.
Example

He gets his girls using his khemi.

Skhokho 04 April 2022
A hit song by the legendary Mandoza and it almost became the National Anthem but Sister Betina overtook it.
Example

Can you please play the Nkalakatha song.

Chief 14 February 2022
A Kasi term for a chubby or a fat person.
Example

Eish that girl sisdudla and I love her.

MXhosa 09 February 2022
It's a thing or something
Example

Iphi la wayi ?



In English - where is that thing?

Inkonde' magama 09 February 2022
A new drug in Pitori that is 10 times stronger and addictive than nyaope.
Example

Kreng kreng is finishing the youth of Pretoria

Mr Trends 03 February 2022

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