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.

Sharists are those people who spend their time on Facebook just sharing posts. They are usually single, hence all the free time to bore us with their useless posts.
Example

Ever since they dumped her, she's been a big sharist on Facebook.

DRex 29 October 2021
In Xhosa culture, umgidi is the ceremony that's done to celebrate a boy or boys (mkhwetha) coming back from the mountain (initiation school).
Example

I can't wait to attend umgidi ka Boy

MXhosa 23 October 2021
A Sowetan term used to identify a certain opportunistic behaviour in people. e.g. slay queens
Example

Ngwano ke mokotjo!

snack_rsa 21 October 2021
Refers to being good, okay or doing well/fine.
Example

- How are you? Are you okay?

- Ngimnandi

Baba Ka ThabileJr 20 October 2021
Mentally challenged,crazy
Example

Ngwanola o zodwa

AishArn 19 October 2021
Sibeko is a term that has been used to refer to a drunkard. This is due to a character from the famous South African sitcom, Emzini wezinsizwa, who was always drunk.

Now Sibeko is synonymous for drunkard.
Example

Why did you give him money, don't you know he's a Sibeko?

MXhosa 17 October 2021
Ikaka is a term that means shit
Example

Uthetha ikaka kwedini
You are talking shit young boy

MXhosa 16 October 2021
Impandla is a Nguni term for bald hair (when men lose their hair).
Example

He's always wearing a cap because unempandla.

MXhosa 11 October 2021
I'm not with it
Example

You want me to sacrifice my time for something that won't work out? Andizi shame

Manana 09 October 2021
Izinyanya is a Xhosa term for ancestors.
Example

Ndiyabulela kuni zinyanya.

MXhosa 05 October 2021
Danko is the same as Afrikaans word dankie which symbolises acceptance and appreciation, it basically means thank you.
Example

The South African government said Danko to everyone who got vaccinated.

Colani 23 September 2021
A liberator, Someone who gives freedom
Example

Uthixo nguMkhululi wethu

Mkhululi Maliza 16 September 2021

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