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.

When you are ugly as fuck.
Example

1. He couldn't get that girl because he is cosmetically challenged.

2. She rejected him because, cosmetically, he is challenged.

DRex 16 July 2020
When you are so broke, you literally have nothing left under your name.
Example

1. I've been living on pap and atchaar because I'm financially deceased.

2. I can't pay you this week, I am financially deceased.

DRex 16 July 2020
A widely used noun and verb for an outdoor ‘barbecue’ where meat is cooked over a fire or coal. A braai is a popular social event in South Africa and even has its own dedicated public holiday, known as National Braai Day, which coincides with Heritage Day celebrated annually on September 24.
Example

Let's go buy some beer and some meat for tonight's braai.

DRex 16 July 2020
A favorite South African snack made from dried and salted meat, similar to beef jerky. It is mostly loved by white South Africans when watching their rugby games.
Example

Let's grab some biltong before we watch the game.

DRex 16 July 2020
is a widely used term, mostly by whites or cheese boys indicating that something is ‘great’ or ‘nice’.
Example

Thabo: This biltong is lekker.

Nathan: Yeah bru, it's not as lekker as the one from we had last week, though.

DRex 16 July 2020
The South African Women's soccer team.
Example

Banyana Banyana is the best women's soccer team in Africa, unlike Bafana Bafana.

Chief 16 July 2020
The weakest soccer team in Africa and the rest of the world.
Example

Even Banyana Banyana can beat your beloved Bafana Bafana.

Mr Trends 15 July 2020
This word can be used in any context. You can use it to greet, to say goodbye, to indicate you are happy. Etc.
Example

Guy 1: Aweh bro, howzit?
Guy 2: Chilled bro, how about you?

Guy 1: Lekker bro.
Guy 2: Aweh!

Chief 15 July 2020
If you say that something will happen with immediate effect or with effect from a particular time, you mean that it will begin to apply or be valid immediately or from the stated time.
Example

No one:

Cyril Ramaphosa: The sale of alcohol is suspended with immediate effect!

Mr Trends 12 July 2020
This is a South African way of saying Barbecue.
Example

Tonight, we deserve to have braai and celebrate the great year we've had

Chief 11 July 2020
A rich, usually older guy who exchanges his money for sexual benefits from young girls and/or boys.
Example

Chomie, I got this new iPhone from my Blesser.

Chief 11 July 2020
A quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity.
Example

"there is a need for understanding not vengeance, ubuntu not victimization"

Chief 11 July 2020

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