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
Mfowethu is a Nguni term for "my brother". It can be used to refer to any male, it doesn't have to be your biological brother. It's like saying "bro".
Example

Sure mfowethu, I will see you tomorrow.

Pronunciation
by MXhosa
MXhosa 25 July 2025
Mfethu is a Nguni term, short for mfowethu, meaning my brother. It is generally used to refer to a man, doesn’t have to be related to you.
Example

Dankie for featuring me, mfethu.

Pronunciation
by MXhosa
MXhosa 24 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
Nongogo is a vulgar Xhosa term that means a whore.
Example

Ndipeyile namhlanje, I should get unongogo.



I got paid today, I should get a whore.

Xhosa Nostra 18 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
Grootie is a respectful term of referring to an older man. It’s a shortened version of grootman (big man).
Example

Sure Grootie, nice seeing you again.

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

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