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.

Tik

Tik is the South African street name for crystal meth. It also goes by the street name thsuf.
Example

These boys smoke tik and terrorize the community.

Varsity Dude • 04 May 2021

Hud

It's those mxit abbreviations from back in the day that means "How u doing"
Example

Guy: Hi

Girl: Hi

Guy: Hud

Girl: Gud u

Guy: Gud, wud?

Danny • 04 May 2021

Wud

It's those mxit abbreviations from back in the day that means "What are you doing"
Example

Guy: Hi

Girl: Hi

Guy: Hud

Girl: Gud u

Guy: Gud, wud?

Danny • 04 May 2021
Mxit was a popular South African social media platform before the times of WhatsApp.

That's what we used to get girls back in the day.
Example

Niggas had a girlfriend in every province during the Mxit days 🤣

Skhokho • 04 May 2021
A term used to refer to the South African Tactical Response Team.

Those cops that wear berets and moer people.
Example

He was moered by amaberete, that's why he is behaving now.

Danny • 04 May 2021
Also known as SOS - Is a South African rapper who the current king of South African rap. He released his diss track called Ninyile that was dissing the whole SA Hip Hop industry and all these cats have been awfully quiet ever since.
Example

Big Xhosa dissed the whole industry except Big Zulu.

Danny • 02 May 2021
A Sotho term that means a white person.
Example

Ke tshwere stocko sa lekgowa.

Skhokho • 01 May 2021
A slang term that means a white person.
Example

That guy is always chilling with a ngamla.

Skhokho • 01 May 2021
A term that is used to refer to a very old car.
Example

Push iskorokoro.

Skhokho • 01 May 2021
The 750ml or 660ml beer or cider (quart).

Can also be called Ngud (without the last u)
Example

Yabona ng'zomosha kakhulu

Ng'zoshay'iNgud

Skhokho • 01 May 2021
A very offensive word that is used to refer to a foreigner.

Same as kwerekwere.
Example

Stop calling our brothers and sisters amagweja!

Bafo • 01 May 2021

Res

Res is a shortened name for a University or college residence.
Example

I have applied for res because I am tired of staying at home.

Bafo • 01 May 2021

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