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.
Dubane is a slang term for the City of Durban. Used predominantly by the Zulu speaking population of KwaZulu Natal.
Example
Hamb' obuza ngami in Dubane they know.
Nelly M is the name that the recent generation / Social Media has given to former South African president, Nelson Mandela.
Example
I miss Nelly M, things would be better if he was still alive.
A soccer skill/move where a player puts the ball in between another player's legs.
Example
Did you see that shibobo from Messi?
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