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.

Umpu is a Xhosa word for a gun.
Example

Ndifuna umpu wam
I want my gun.

OD • 26 July 2025
Currency of South Africa (ZAR) issued by the South African Reserve Bank. 1 Rand = 100 cents.
Example

The rand is also used in Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini through monetary agreements.

Travel Admin • 21 July 2025
Mkhuluwa is a Xhosa term for older brother. It can also be used as a respectful way of addressing an older man.
Example

Let’s go out, mkhuluwa.

Xhosa Nostra • 17 July 2025
Dzubha is a slang term for a chubby or fat person.
Example

Did you see that dzubha over there?

Xhosa Nostra • 17 July 2025
Skamelian dance is the dance originating from KameelrivierB which falls under Siyabuswa and was founded by MDU Aka Khathaza from KameelrivierB at Ndebele Street
Example

Can I teach you the Skamelian dance?

Anti Devil • 17 July 2025
Skamelian is the certain dance originating from KameelrivierB which falls under a township called Siyabuswa and founded of the skamelian dance is MDU Aka Khathaza from KameelrivierB at Ndebele Street
Example

I want to show you the Skamelian

Anti Devil • 17 July 2025
Bhuti is a Xhosa word for big brother or just to refer to an older man.
Example

I’ll see you tomorrow, bhuti.

Xhosa Nostra • 17 July 2025
Pere is the Xhosa term for a pear 🍐
Example

Ndifuna ukutya ipere.

I want to eat a pear.

Xhosa Nostra • 15 July 2025
Apile is the Xhosa term for an apple.
Example

Ndifuna ukutya i-apile.

I want to eat an apple.

Xhosa Nostra • 15 July 2025
Ekurhuleni is a metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of the East Rand region of Gauteng, a large suburban region east of Johannesburg. Ekurhuleni means "place of peace" in XiTsonga.
Example

I prefer Ekurhuleni over City of Johannesburg.

Maps • 15 July 2025
Ixelegu is a Xhosa word for a dirty person or a person who just cant be tidy.
Example

I can’t deal with ixelegu.

Xhosa Nostra • 14 July 2025
Itopi is a Xhosa slang term for an old person or old man.
Example

I still cant believe ndishiywe litopi elidala.

Xhosa Nostra • 14 July 2025

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