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.

(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
Example

We use a lot of colloquial terms in our everyday lingo.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Is a colloquial Xhosa term for pubic hair.
Also see izinza.
Example

iinzeft zam ziyarhawzela.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Is a Xhosa term for pubic hair.
Example

Voetsek utsho ngezinza ezibomvu.

MXhosa 12 May 2021
Is a Xhosa term for "You are annoying".
It can also mean "He/She is annoying"... depending on the pronunciation.
Example

Example 1: Don't talk to me, uyadika (you are annoying).

Example 2: I stopped talking to her because uyadika (she is annoying).

MXhosa 11 May 2021
Is a term that means jerking off or masturbating.
Example

I caught my little brother eskomora.

MXhosa 11 May 2021
A Xhosa term that means for nothing. Free; obtained without payment or difficulty.
Example

Buy 1 drink and get the second one simahla.

Sinazo 11 May 2021
This is apparently a thing these days. Are these ama2000 who are always posting their numbers on social media asking for "status viewers". Yeah, these kids are very weird.
Example

She has so many contacts because she is a WhatsApp influencer.

Sinazo 11 May 2021
A Tsonga term that means "Where was he going", mostly used on social media when someone maybe gets hurt when doing something they were not supposed to do in the first place.
Example

Girl 1: She broke up with that Xhosa guy, apparently he was trash.

Girl 2: I told her to stay away from Xhosa people. Yena aya kwini?

Sinazo 11 May 2021
(XiTsonga) A sexy language that is mostly spoken in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Mozambique.

The people are Tsonga people.
Example

My best friend is Tsonga but she can't speak XiTsonga properly.

Sinazo 11 May 2021
A term used when someone tags along with a couple, either on a date or when they are just chilling.
Example

I'm tired of always being the one holding a candle. I need a girlfriend.

Varsity Dude 11 May 2021
A Zulu word for asking a girl/guy out.
Example

Ladies must also shela now. #WomenHaveToShela

Skhokho 11 May 2021
A social media term that means they will hurt you.
Example

You think he loves you... Batlao hurda mntase.

Skhokho 11 May 2021

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