Word of the Day [22 May 2026]

Zuka

A term we used to use back in the day to refer to the 50c coin. Ama2000 would not know it.


No one:

5 year old me: Ndicela noba yi zuka to buy sweets.

Drata

South African slang term for R100 (1 Hundred Rands).
Some call it Klipa.


I just need 2 drata then I'll be fine.

419 fraud

A scam that typically involves promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small up-front payment, which the fraudster claims will be used to obtain the large sum


419 fraud has increased significantly in recent years.


Gombo

The indigenous name for the City of East London meaning the new farming area or new development. The name was given by the precolonial Xhosas to the City following its establishment after the Sixth Frontier War. Today it is mistakenly pronounced Gompo
owing to the Christianization of the Xhosa language by early African converts writers who owing to growing up in mission station could not comprehend Xhosa properly and had a habit of changing the spelling of Xhosa words they did not understand.


Going to East London?
I’m going to Gombo

Flavoured air

This is the premium air that people from Pitori think they breathe, while the rest of the world breathes normal air.


Pretorians like to think they breathe flavoured air


Sister Betina

The South African National Anthem, written and performed by our very own, Mgarimbe.


They all lost their minds when Sister Betina started playing.

Ikati ilele eziko

This is a Xhosa figure of speech that describes hunger or poverty. It directly translate to "a cat is sleeping in the fire (cooking) place (or stove if you may say)". So the cat is sleeping where people are supposed to be cooking because there's no fire and no food to cook.


Grandma had to send the kids back to their mothers because ikati ilele eziko.


2 Bob

2 bob refers to the 20 cent coin


Uncle: My boy, go buy me some bread at the shop, I will give you 2 bob when you come back.

Nnyo

Nnyo is a Sotho term that means cunt or pussy.


Ke nyaka nnyo today.


Tao

Tao is a slang term for a 'thousand' (money).


My life would be better if I could get 5 tao right now.

Grigamba

Grigamba is a derogatory term used in South Africa to refer to a foreigner.


She really likes going out with ama grigamba.




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