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.

I don’t know
Example

Yhoo andiyazi chom

lisa 20 November 2021
To flex or to show off
Example

Nna nkao tempela, net akerato bolela thata, ke dealer ka action.

Mr Trends 19 November 2021
To claim you can do something, or you can do it better.
Example

Wena awitsi selo wa're tempela fela.

Mr Trends 19 November 2021
Qhoqhoqho is a Xhosa term for the trachea (windpipe/throat).
Example

Ndizakuqhawula uqhoqhoqho.

I will slit your throat.

MXhosa 13 November 2021
A useless person or thing. A breathing object
Example

He is not someone who can help you yis’ting- ting.



You can only rob a s’ting ting

Keith 12 November 2021
A South African Musician That wants a family that looks like Beyoncé’s & to grow old with his partner.
Example

Baby ndicela ichance ndiku bonise ngifuna umndeni wethu ufane noBeyonce. Start a generation sibe habo grams. Kido Lava On Yafinijwa

Keith 12 November 2021

Cav

Cav is a South African slang expression used to say "check it out" or "take a look" or even "understand".
Example

Did you cav that car?

Cav this girl.

Do you cav what I mean?

OD 08 November 2021
A muscular, loving, over-protective man whom you never want to lose in your life whether as a friend or a partner... (smile keeper)
Example

I have encounter a man like braaipack

AishArn 08 November 2021
Iqaza is a Xhosa slang term for a shoe or shoes.
Example

Ndibone enye iqaza egrand eSportscene.

I saw these other nice shoes at Sportscene.

MXhosa 05 November 2021
plug is a word used by Xhosa people that means HIV & AIDS
Example

yho njayam lawei ine plug

Inam 03 November 2021

Rha

Pronounced (ggggaaah); this is a Xhosa term for ‘ew’. It has many uses, for instance when something disgusts you or when someone says you and someone would look good together then you say ‘rha’.

Synonym; sies
Example

*sees something very disgusting*

Me: Rha

Yongama 30 October 2021
Iyeza is anything and everything that heals.
Example

Ina iyeza, sela iyeza.

MXhosa 30 October 2021

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