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.

To beat someone to a pulp.


Can also be a swear word in Afrikaans
Example

I will moer you.


Come here, jou moer.

DRex 06 April 2021
Relaxing, socialising with friends over drinks and sometimes some braai meat at someone’s home, tavern, club or at a pub.
Example

I'm planning a chillas this coming weekend at my place.

Chief 06 April 2021
A lunchbox; a portable, usually plastic, container for food, such as Tupperware.
Also occurs as skaftien, skhafthin
Example

Plase bring a skaftin, I want to put my leftovers.

Mr Trends 06 April 2021
A kasi word that is used to refer to money.
Example

I just need some zaka to buy the braai meat and all will be well

Mr Trends 06 April 2021
Afrikaans is a Low Franconian West Germanic language descended from Dutch and spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia.
Example

I would rather do an unprepared speech in Afrikaans that ukujola with you.

Chief 06 April 2021
Show you flames or to literally make you shit yourself.
Example

Mjolo will nyisa you.

DRex 06 April 2021

PK

Pastor's Kid or Preacher's Kid.

There's a stereotype that they grow up in very strict households but once they get their "freedom", they become very rachet.
Example

The way she dances with that Savanna, you wouldn't believe that she is a PK.

Sinazo 06 April 2021
Derived from Xhosa term "Andisenxile" which means I am so drunk. It is mostly used by girls on social to indicate that they've had too much to drink.
Can also be spelled as senxl.
Example

Yho snxl kamnandi mntkbw.

Sinazo 07 April 2021
Xhosa term derived from Mntakabawo which directly translates to "My dad's child". This term doesn't necessarily refer to someone you are related to. It can be used to refer to a friend or any random person.
Example

I'm so tired mntkbw.

Sinazo 07 April 2021
Term mostly used in the Northern parts of the country to refer to sweet flavoured and coloured popcorns.

Some parts of the country call them amaKip-kip
Example

I bought my nephews some skopas from the Spaza shop.

Sinazo 08 April 2021
South African slang term for R100 (1 Hundred Rands).

Some call it Klipa.
Example

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

Sinazo 08 April 2021
A twitter celebrity who usually has a lot of followers.
Example

These twelebs are always plagiarising our posts and get more likes for them.

Mbali 08 April 2021

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