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.

Iyeza is anything and everything that heals.
Example

Ina iyeza, sela iyeza.

MXhosa • 30 October 2021
Sharists are those people who spend their time on Facebook just sharing posts. They are usually single, hence all the free time to bore us with their useless posts.
Example

Ever since they dumped her, she's been a big sharist on Facebook.

DRex • 29 October 2021
In Xhosa culture, umgidi is the ceremony that's done to celebrate a boy or boys (mkhwetha) coming back from the mountain (initiation school).
Example

I can't wait to attend umgidi ka Boy

MXhosa • 23 October 2021
Refers to being good, okay or doing well/fine.
Example

- How are you? Are you okay?

- Ngimnandi

Baba Ka ThabileJr • 20 October 2021
Mentally challenged,crazy
Example

Ngwanola o zodwa

AishArn • 19 October 2021
Sibeko is a term that has been used to refer to a drunkard. This is due to a character from the famous South African sitcom, Emzini wezinsizwa, who was always drunk.

Now Sibeko is synonymous for drunkard.
Example

Why did you give him money, don't you know he's a Sibeko?

MXhosa • 17 October 2021
Ikaka is a term that means shit
Example

Uthetha ikaka kwedini
You are talking shit young boy

MXhosa • 16 October 2021
Izinyanya is a Xhosa term for ancestors.
Example

Ndiyabulela kuni zinyanya.

MXhosa • 05 October 2021
Danko is the same as Afrikaans word dankie which symbolises acceptance and appreciation, it basically means thank you.
Example

The South African government said Danko to everyone who got vaccinated.

Colani • 23 September 2021
Hierso is a South African slang term that means "Here", "Right here". It is taken from the Afrikaans language.
Example

"I'll be hierso goseng, wa nkolota" - Khuli Chana in No More Hunger

Danny • 08 September 2021
Dubane is a slang term for the City of Durban. Used predominantly by the Zulu speaking population of KwaZulu Natal.
Example

Hamb' obuza ngami in Dubane they know.

Danny • 08 September 2021
Nelly M is the name that the recent generation / Social Media has given to former South African president, Nelson Mandela.
Example

I miss Nelly M, things would be better if he was still alive.

Varsity Dude • 27 August 2021

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