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

Gqeberha

New name for Port Elizabeth.

Example

Did you hear that Port Elizabeth is now called Gqeberha?

Mr Trends • 24 February 2021

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South Africa

Cupcake

The nickname for the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Example

Cupcake is opening the country again.

Mr Trends • 07 February 2021

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South Africa

Bathong

Word used to express disbelief, surprise, dissatisfaction.

Example

Bathong, that's so crazy.

Mr Trends • 30 November 2020

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South Africa

Chiskop

The word that refers to when the head has been shaved to be bald.

Example

Men with chiskop are a bit scary.

Mr Trends • 16 November 2020

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South Africa

Beyps

An informal way to say "babes", mostly used by Xhosa women when talking to each other or about each other.

Example

Yho beyps, the way I've been missing my Ben 10 these days.

Mr Trends • 16 November 2020

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South Africa

Stockvel

A stokvel is a savings pool where a group of individuals contribute an agreed-upon monthly amount. The group have full control of how they would like to use that money. Two common methods are to pay out monthly or annually. The group can make monthly pay-outs, or they could keep investing their savings and get a lump sum at the end of the year.

Example

I have joined a stockvel with the members of my community where we get monthly payouts.

Sinazo • 16 November 2020

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South Africa

Same WhatsApp group

A phrase that is used to describe similar things, people, behaviors or situations.

Example

ANC supporters and Bushiri supporters - Same WhatsApp group!

Sinazo • 13 November 2020

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South Africa

Skrr skrr

Are mostly ama2000 and you will see them with their weird clothes, American accent, dreads with a fade or just a clean fade and they listen to weird Hip Hop songs. They always want to be seen and are very hard to miss.

They are the same WhatsApp group with cheese boys.

Example

1. I knew he was a skrr skrr just from the way he was dressed.

2. Skrr skrr niggas will break your heart and help you through the heartbreak then break it again.

Mr Trends • 10 November 2020

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South Africa