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.

Unyoko is a Nguni term that means mother. It is mostly used in a rude manner.
Example

Umsunu kanyoko

Your mother's cunt

MXhosa 08 July 2021
Ufasti is a term Xhosa people use to refer to the main chick or main partner. Some call it 560.
Example

Ngufasti wam lawey
She is my main girlfriend

MXhosa 06 July 2021
Word referring to money.
Example

Where is my nyuku?

Mntungwa 05 July 2021
The word referring to a "Place", could be a Home, special venue or any place.
Example

We will meet at my Pozi..We will meet at my house.

Mntungwa 05 July 2021
Word meaning drink, any type of drink and mostly biased towards alcohol drinks.
Example

uspinza ini? What are you drinking?

Mntungwa 05 July 2021
The word referring any form of educational institution, from pre-school all the way to University.
Example

Did you go to Sgela? Did you go to School?

Mntungwa 05 July 2021
MKMVA is the abbreviation for uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association.
Example

MKMVA is protecting Jacob Zuma's house in Nkandla

Varsity Dude 02 July 2021
Igqwirha is a Xhosa term for someone who practices witchcraft (a witch).
Example

Ligqwirha ke la sisi
That woman is a witch.

Sinazo 29 June 2021
Isishumane or sishimane is a South African term used to refer to a single person who is not single by choice. It is mostly used in a mocking manner.
Example

Aisuka, that one sisishumane esikhulu.

Sinazo 30 June 2021
Gqirhy or gqwirhi is an informal Xhosa term used to refer to jealous or black magic tendencies.
Example

I bought this car last month and today someone stole it. Yhu ni gqwirhy kulendawo

Sinazo 29 June 2021
These are the guys who sell alcohol during the hard lockdown, when there is an alcohol ban. They inflate their prices like crazy. You can even get an 1818 bottle for R850.
They got the name because they don't care, it's either you buy at their 500% price or you leave it.
Example

I got this gin from my Take it or leave it guy.

Mr Trends 28 June 2021
Pinkies is a Kasi term for R50 or ZAR50, that is 50 rands.
Example

Now that the Cupcake has closed alcohol again, I heard that a ngud of Zamalek is pinkies from my Take it or leave it.

Mr Trends 28 June 2021

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