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

Fighter

A general term used to refer to a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Example

We are led by a very good fighter.

Chief • 23 July 2020

1 0 0

South Africa

Phara

Also known as phara-phara. A term that refers to a drug addict who often terrorizes the community through criminal activities. The term is mostly used in Xhosa and Zulu speaking communities. In Gauteng, this person would be called a Nyaope Boy.

Example

There was nothing he could do, ela phara had a huge knife so he just gave away the phone.

Chief • 22 July 2020

3 0 0

South Africa

isiXhosa

Spaza

Not to be confused with Spaza shop... Is the name used to refer to Xhosa rap or Xhosa hip hop. It is not clear how the name went from being a kasi shop to a music genre.

Example

You know guys from cape Town like listening to Spaza music.

Chief • 22 July 2020

2 0 0

South Africa

isiXhosa

Tilili

A term Xhosa people use to refer to those small cellphones with no internet. Those phones you just use for calls and sms. They call it lepopotane in SePitori.

Example

Yho mntase I saw his tilili hidden in the spare wheel of his car. Caba he didn't want me to see that he uses it for his hoes.

Mr Trends • 21 July 2020

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South Africa

Sepitori

Lepopotane

A term in Sepitori that refers to those small cellphones with no internet. Those phones you just use for calls and sms. Xhosa people call it tilili

Example

I use my lepopotane for my side chicks, and I make sure I hide it inside the spare wheel so that my main chick doesn't see it.

Mr Trends • 21 July 2020

0 0 0

South Africa

Sepitori

Also known as S'Pitori, is the language spoken by native people of Pretoria (Pitori). It is a combination of Pedi and Tswana, with a bit of Tsotsi taal.

Example

I speak a bit of Tswana plus sepitori.

Mr Trends • 21 July 2020

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South Africa

Lepyatla

This term is commonly used to refer to a very beautiful and attractive girl. This word originates from S'pitori, commonly known as Pretoria.

Example

Tjo ngwana ona na ke lepyatla.

Olebogeng • 21 July 2020

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South Africa

Spaza shop

An informal convenience store, usually run from home or some corner in the neighbourhood.

Example

Go buy some bread at the spaza shop.

Chief • 20 July 2020

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South Africa

Tsotsi

This is a general kasi term for a criminal.

Example

He got mugged by some Tsotsi from town.

Sinazo • 20 July 2020

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South Africa

Tsotsi Taal

The term directly translate to "Criminal language". This is a vernacular derived from a variety of mixed languages, mainly spoken in the townships all over South Africa.

Each Kasi has its own tsotsi taal or its own way of speaking, meaning tsotsi taal from Soweto might differ from that of Pitori.

Example

Teacher: You cannot speak that Tsotsi Taal in my class. Here we speak proper English.

Sinazo • 20 July 2020

1 1 0

South Africa