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.

Can also be spelled Bhabhalaza, Babalaz, bhabhalazi - is a hangover or that feeling in the morning after a night of heavy drinking.
Example

I'm struggling to wake up today because babalaas is nyisaring me.

Sinazo 12 April 2021

Pap

Limpopo people's favourite food, made from maize meal.
Example

We need more pap for the braai.

Sinazo 11 April 2021
Weed from Swaziland that is very potent.
Example

Come let's smoke, I've got some swazi here.

Mbali 09 April 2021
A South African dance where the person squats and kicks at the same time. It is one of the most popular dances in South Africa.
Example

Look at how she does the vosho. You can see that she is a regular at groove.

Mbali 09 April 2021
A twitter celebrity who usually has a lot of followers.
Example

These twelebs are always plagiarising our posts and get more likes for them.

Mbali 08 April 2021
South African slang term for R100 (1 Hundred Rands).

Some call it Klipa.
Example

I just need 2 drata then I'll be fine.

Sinazo 08 April 2021
Term mostly used in the Northern parts of the country to refer to sweet flavoured and coloured popcorns.

Some parts of the country call them amaKip-kip
Example

I bought my nephews some skopas from the Spaza shop.

Sinazo 08 April 2021
Xhosa term derived from Mntakabawo which directly translates to "My dad's child". This term doesn't necessarily refer to someone you are related to. It can be used to refer to a friend or any random person.
Example

I'm so tired mntkbw.

Sinazo 07 April 2021
Derived from Xhosa term "Andisenxile" which means I am so drunk. It is mostly used by girls on social to indicate that they've had too much to drink.
Can also be spelled as senxl.
Example

Yho snxl kamnandi mntkbw.

Sinazo 07 April 2021

PK

Pastor's Kid or Preacher's Kid.

There's a stereotype that they grow up in very strict households but once they get their "freedom", they become very rachet.
Example

The way she dances with that Savanna, you wouldn't believe that she is a PK.

Sinazo 06 April 2021
Show you flames or to literally make you shit yourself.
Example

Mjolo will nyisa you.

DRex 06 April 2021
Afrikaans is a Low Franconian West Germanic language descended from Dutch and spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia.
Example

I would rather do an unprepared speech in Afrikaans that ukujola with you.

Chief 06 April 2021

© 2020 Africtionary®