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.

Directly translates to: We are eating cotton. This is a statement said when you feel that you've dressed to impress or you dress nicely in general.
Example

"Sidl'ukotini kwedini, cava le jean kwedini" - Rick Rick

Mbali 26 April 2021
Local term for cotton.
Example

Sidl'ukotini kwedini.

Mbali 26 April 2021
The generation of people who are sad during the week and extremely happy on weekends. You will see them with their Savannas on their heads, dancing to amapiano.
Example

"We are a sad generation with happy pictures"
I am a proud member of the "sad generation".

Mbali 26 April 2021
An Afrikaans derogatory term that directly translates to "your mother's cunt".
See poes.
Example

Stop talking shit jou ma se poes

DRex 26 April 2021
An Afrikaans slang term for pussy or cunt. it is typically considered a foul word as it is often used to refer to or describe something with great disgust.
Example

Get out of here jou ma se poes

DRex 26 April 2021
The online betting site that's chowing 90% of South African men and a couple of women.
Example

Stop wasting your money on betting. Betway will kill you a real death.

Danny 26 April 2021
South African slang word for "cool" or "nice"
Example

I just won a bet in Betway.

Lekker bru.

Danny 26 April 2021
This is what educated people call "knock knees". When a person is standing and his/her knees (madolo) are touching (kissing).
It can also be called a kiss kiss.
Example

He can't run because he has kiss madolo.

Danny 26 April 2021
What this other gender say when a guy buys them a lousy streetwise 2.
Example

He took me out yesterday, thungisani

Chief 25 April 2021
A Zulu term for a Loan Shark, someone who offers loans at extremely high interest rates, has strict terms of collection upon failure, and generally operates outside of local authority.
Example

I need to pay the mashonisa otherwise he will keep my ID and Bank cards.

Sinazo 23 April 2021
A Xhosa term for mkhukhu, a house built from zink (metallic roof material).
Basically a shack.
Example

Cape Town is full of amatyotyombe

Sinazo 23 April 2021
A house built from metal roof material (zink) or mud. i.e informal settlement.
Example

I'm moving to Gomora, I will build myself a mkhukhu.

DRex 23 April 2021

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