Word of the Day [02 Jul 2026]

Madibas

A term used in South Africa to refer to money. Madiba is Nelson Mandela's clan name and his face is on the South African bank notes, hence the term.


I can’t come if there’s no Madibas.

Gawula

Is A South African slang term for food or eating.


The only thing I want now yi gawula.

Kwaal

Kwaal is a slang term that means a problem or a conflict.


Why does he have kwaal with him?


Indlala

Indlala is the formal Xhosa term for hunger or poverty.
Also see Ikati ilele eziko


Indlala inamanyala and it can make you do anything.

Bathong

Word used to express disbelief, surprise, dissatisfaction


Bathong...he really ate all those chilli's


Lezothi

A beautiful person


Bona lezothi

Gurans

Gurans is a slang term used by Cape Town Xhosa speaking community that means war between rival gangs or individuals.


Ingathi ikhona igurans between lamajita.
It looks like there is some war/conflict between those guys.


Net so

South African kasi term for "just like that" or "just the way it is".


Thabo: You don't put salt when you cook pap? Themba: Nah, I eat it net so.

Daily Sun

A South African newspaper that publishes bullshit stories that other newspapers don't want to publish.


I can tell from the bullshit you are saying that you get your news from Daily Sun.


Bergie

A derogatory term, originally referred to homeless people who sheltered in the forests of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. It’s now a derogatory word for homeless people in general.


He left home now he is a bergie.

Che

Give me or pass me. It is a substitute for the word skyf. Pronounced as “Chair”


Che me the phone Broer, I wanna call someone to bring us Pipe.




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