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.

Add a South African word

South Africa

isiZulu

Asbonge

Asbonge is a Zulu term for "Let's give thanks" or "Let's be thankful"

Example

Beke le beke asbonge bafethu.

Mr Trends • 09 June 2021

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South Africa

GAETZ

Touchline Operator, MBUZI.
One feels pressure when he is around

Example

“Dai man ke GAETZ“

letlhogonolo • 09 June 2021

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South Africa

isiZulu

Sangoma

A Sangoma is a highly respected healer among the Zulu people of South Africa who diagnoses, prescribes, and often performs the rituals to heal a person physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

Example

I need to go see a powerful Sangoma.

Mr Trends • 09 June 2021

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South Africa

Inyanga

Inyanga is mostly a traditional herbalist and does not usually perform rituals that are common to those that a Sangoma performs.

Example

I went to see Inyanga when I was not feeling well.

Mr Trends • 09 June 2021

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South Africa

isiXhosa

Mgqakhwe

In Xhosa, umgqakhwe is a derogatory term used to refer to someone born out of wedlock.

Example

"Makungangeni mgqakhwe ebandleni likaYehova; nesizukulwana sawo seshumi masingangeni ebandleni likaYehova." - deuteronomy 23

"No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation."

Sinazo • 08 June 2021

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South Africa

Tse nzima

Tse nzima is a word used to describe people who are good at something. It is normally used as a compliment.

Example

If you get the girl your friends can say to you

Tse Nziiiiiiiima.

Colani • 08 June 2021

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South Africa

Mahlangu

1. A Ndebele surname

2. The Nokia 3310

Example

1. UMahlangu wami ulahlekile

S.J • 08 June 2021

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South Africa

Agang

Agang is a Tswana verb that means build

Example

In Tswana
- Agang ntlo.

In English
- Build a house.

Agang Definitions • 08 June 2021

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South Africa

Nguni

Nguni, cluster of related Bantu-speaking ethnic groups living in South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

They speak Xhosa, Zulu, Swati and Ndebele.

Example

We should unite as Nguni people and stop this tribalism.

MXhosa • 07 June 2021

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