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.

In South African restaurants, Mondays are known as Mogodu Mondays, where they serve Mogodu, usually on special.
Example

Let’s go to Mogodu Monday next week.

Mamba 17 June 2025
Mogodu is a South African dish which is a combination of chopped serobe (tripe) and mala (intestines), served as a stew often with hot pap or dumpling
Example

I can’t wait for Monday so that I can have mogodu at Mogodu Monday.

Mamba 17 June 2025
Ikula is an offensive term used to refer to Indian people.
Example

He speaks like that because he is dating ikula.

Skhokho 16 June 2025
Ilawu is a very offensive term mostly used by Xhosa people to refer to Coloureds.
Example

I saw your friend walking with elinye ilawu.

Skhokho 16 June 2025
Gongo is a derogatory term used to refer to coloureds.
Example

I am now dating igongo.

Skhokho 16 June 2025
Nyoviolas is a playful variation or nickname referencing South African rapper Cassper Nyovest, often styled as "Don Nyoviolas".
Example

Ola Nyoviolas, I am your biggest fan.

Skhokho 16 June 2025
Ikrwala is a Xhosa term for a fresh out of initiation school man. You will see them with their formal clothes and the red thing on their face.
Example

I can't wait to see my younger brother as ikrwala.

Masi 11 June 2025
Saluka is a Xhosa term that refers to the person you went to initiation school with.
Example

Good to see you, saluka. I last saw you after initiation school.

Masi 11 June 2025
Nongendi is a Xhosa word/name for a nun. It directly translates to “one who cannot get married”.
Example

Usisi wam nguNongendi.



My sister is a nun.

Themba 08 June 2025
Poephol is afrikaans for an asshole, usually used to reference to people
Example

Jou poepholl!

Translation: you asshole

Tead jeffrey 04 June 2025
Fokkerkie is basically a small fokker
Example

Daai Steve is OK maar 'n fokkerkie

Translation: that guy Steve is a real small fuck

Tead jeffrey 04 June 2025
Makoer is directly translated from Afrikaans to English someone who is a domesticated asshole, essentially it means your a special kind of asshole
Example

Afr: Daai makmoer moet my nie plaa nie-

Eng: that asshole shouldn't bother me

Tead jeffrey 04 June 2025

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