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.
We are out of beer... mswapheni
We are out of meat... mswapheni
Madiba passed away in December 2013.
Molweni bantu abadala.
Some people spell it as mholo.
"Molo sisi, kunjani? Uphilile na? Bendicel'umzuzu wokuthetha nawe mna" - Mandisi Dyantyis
O boa marete saan
Amasende akho ayanuka.
"Utlwella Aka Thellwa, Nyamao" - 25k, Culture Vulture
You born-frees don't know anything about struggle.
Where are we having the After Tears?
Yo fam, I think I'm beginning to like the yanos.
Kabza De Small is the king of Amapiano.
It is a crime to use the K-word in South Africa.