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.

A Zulu term for a Loan Shark, someone who offers loans at extremely high interest rates, has strict terms of collection upon failure, and generally operates outside of local authority.
Example

I need to pay the mashonisa otherwise he will keep my ID and Bank cards.

Sinazo • 23 April 2021
A Xhosa term for mkhukhu, a house built from zink (metallic roof material).
Basically a shack.
Example

Cape Town is full of amatyotyombe

Sinazo • 23 April 2021
A house built from metal roof material (zink) or mud. i.e informal settlement.
Example

I'm moving to Gomora, I will build myself a mkhukhu.

DRex • 23 April 2021
A term referring to a large amount of something.
Example

I've got alcohol for days, fam.

Varsity Dude • 23 April 2021
Whenever President Cyril Ramaphosa sets up a time to address the country about Covid.
Example

There will be another family meeting, I hope he doesn't ban alcohol again.

Mr Trends • 22 April 2021
A derogatory term for foreigners in South African slang, particularly foreigners from African countries.
Can also be spelt as Kwirikwiri or kwarakwara.
Example

Stop calling foreign people kwerekwere!

DRex • 21 April 2021
University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Students who go here think they breathe flavoured air and will make sure you know it.
Example

No one:

Wits student: Wits is better than UCT but this is a conversation y'all are not ready for.

Varsity Dude • 21 April 2021
The first lecture of the day (07h45) at Rhodes University.

Also see Rhodent.
Example

Yoh dawg, I partied to hard last night that I missed my dawnie.

Varsity Dude • 21 April 2021
Another name (Nickname) for the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Example

I got rejected at Tuks so I will apply at TUT.

Varsity Dude • 21 April 2021
A Sepitori term for a loose girl or sfebe.
Can also be spelt as Mogwanthi.
Example

Mogwanti wa Pitori.

Danny • 20 April 2021
Igolo is a Xhosa/Zulu term for an asshole. It is also used as a swear word so I would suggest you don't call anyone that.
Example

You are mad, golo.

DRex • 19 April 2021
A kasi term that is used to refer to an older man. It is borrowed from Afrikaans and has a direct translation of big man.
Example

Sure grootman, zkhiphani.

DRex • 19 April 2021

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