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.
Plural Amaqaba
They used to call me iqaba because I come from the villages.
Asambe siye enkwarini
I'm coming from Rankuwa.
I'm learning the Thuso Phala dance.
Yhu unezothe ke la bhuti.
That man is extremely annoying.
My life would be better if I could get 5 tao right now.
Ngise Msotra and I'm chillin' with the thugs
No one:
5 year old me: Ndicela noba yi zuka to buy sweets.