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.

The Sepitori version of Tsotsi

This means skinny guy with Nike hat, Skinny jeans and a black Allstar
Example

Sheba le pharra leli

(Look at that thug)

Thabiso Maoko • 04 May 2022
This is the Orlando Pirates football club from Soweto, South Africa. A person who is a fan of Pirates can also be referred to as Bhakaniya.
Example

Bhakaniya has not won the league in a while now.

MXhosa • 01 May 2022
meaning shit that comes out of your anus (ndunu)
Example

have uyishlama wena.(you are shit)

siyaphuma ishlama lapho.(is the shit coming out there)

anonymous • 25 April 2022
It's a Zulu word that describes your are going through a lot or bad things are about to happen to you
Example

Ziyakhala ke manje

Thiizo Phumlanii Hlalu • 25 April 2022
Is to buy WEED, this term started in Mamelodi now is a common word around Pitori.
Example

Bro, Vraiza ujike ko Jeff uTokantse baart

Thulani Mabuza • 22 April 2022
Somagwaza, is a rather mysterious, if not mythical, forefather who invented circumcision as a means of passage into manhood for Xhosa people.
Example

I'm sure you didn't know who Somagwaza was 😅

MXhosa • 19 April 2022
"Hello"; also used before combat. Example in combat: Hosh, jy raak wys ("Hello, show me what you made of"). This gang-related word occurs inside as well as outside of prison: use at own discretion
Example

Hosh nongoloza, come here.

Mbali • 18 April 2022
Illegal drinking place. In South Africa, it refers to unlicensed bars in Kasi and has become a mainstream word.
Example

I last saw him drinking Zamalek at the shebeen yesterday.

MXhosa • 18 April 2022
Khemi is a general slang term for muthi or traditional medicine.
Example

He gets his girls using his khemi.

Skhokho • 04 April 2022
A Kasi term for a chubby or a fat person.
Example

Eish that girl sisdudla and I love her.

MXhosa • 09 February 2022
A new drug in Pitori that is 10 times stronger and addictive than nyaope.
Example

Kreng kreng is finishing the youth of Pretoria

Mr Trends • 03 February 2022
Cape Town is a port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, on a peninsula beneath the imposing Table Mountain. It is the oldest and second largest city in South Africa, after Johannesburg.
Example

I can't wait to go to Cape Town this summer.

MXhosa • 24 January 2022

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