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.

Is a colloquial Xhosa term for crazy or mentally disturbed.

It is mostly used as an insult.
Example

Ingathi azithi dadobawo pha apha kuwe wena.

MXhosa 13 May 2021
Inceku is a Xhosa term form a Man of God.
Example

Sometimes you'd swear azithi dadobawo kwezi nceku.

MXhosa 13 May 2021
This is an incorrect spelling of mnqundu.

It's so annoying to see so many people misspelling this word 🤦🏽‍♂️
Example

No one:

Annoying person: I miss him but umngqund'wakhe.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Masepa mean SHIT in South African seSotho languages (SeSotho, SeTswana, SePedi).

Can also be used to refer to a beautiful lady as in like "Ngwanola ona le masepa"

The other term can be used to insult someone as in like "O mpotsa masepa sarn"

Also see Masimba
Example

O mpotsa masepa.

Mr Trends 12 May 2021
A Xhosa term for No.
Example

Q: Are you hungry?

A: Hayi

MXhosa 12 May 2021

Ewe

A Xhosa term for Yes.
Example

"Uhayi akasebenzi, kungcono uzame u ewe" - iFani

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Andizi is a Xhosa term for I am not coming.
Example

Q: Are you coming or not?

A: Andizi!

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Inteshe is a Xhosa term that refers to a huge belly, mostly seen in tenderpreneurs. It is the synonym of mkhaba.
Example

I've stopped eating meat because wow, inteshe.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
mpundu is a Xhosa term for bums or ass.
Example

1. Ndifuna ukutya iimpundu.

2. "Zodwa Wabantu, ndicela undiphe iimpundu" - Big Xhosa.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
irhem is a colloquial Xhosa term mostly used by ama dyan from East London (eMonti) to refer to sex or a vagina.
Example

Bendisitya irhem izolo.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Umdlezana is a Xhosa term for a mother of a new born baby.
Plural: Abadlezana
Example

Unqabile because ngumdlezana kaloku.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Umnqundu is a Xhosa swear word that you don't want to randomly say.
Example

Mqundu wakho kwedini.

MXhosa 12 May 2021

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