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.

A very weird way of spelling Sex. These people do it on social media.
Example

I thought they broke up a long time ago only to find out they still have sekisi everyday.

Skhokho 28 April 2021
A very bad way of spelling mntase. It is mostly used by Sotho/Tswana people to mock Xhosa people on social media.
Example

Yho motase, I couldn't believe what I saw.

Skhokho 28 April 2021
A very dope musician under Dj Maphorisa's label. He is Maphorisa's alter ego.
Example

Madumane ke star.

Skhokho 28 April 2021
Masimba mean SHIT in South African Zulu and Xhosa languages. I know in Zimbabwe (Shona) it means something different.
Example

Uthetha amasimba.

Translation: You are talking shit

Skhokho 28 April 2021
Another slang term for South Africa, mostly used in Social Media.
Example

Twitter post caption: It can only be South Ah

Skhokho 28 April 2021
Another slang term for South Africa.

Also see South Ah
Example

Madumane: Thank you Sauta for the love.

Skhokho 28 April 2021
Girls these days say they are in Japan to indicate that they are on their periods.
This is due to the flag of Japan, all white with a big red dot (indicates period blood in this case). 🇯🇵
Example

Yoh mntase, I was so worried that I won't go to Japan this month but I woke up in Japan today.

Skhokho 28 April 2021
Ngiyakukhumbula, meaning I miss you
Example

Girl: So whats up.
Guy: NYKL
Girl: Me Too

Mntungwa27 28 April 2021
An informal Xhosa slang term for "I am so happy / I am so excited". It is shortened from "Andisavuyi"
Example

Kaizer Chiefs lost to Chippa Utd today, savuyi mntkbw.

Sinazo 28 April 2021
Is a Volkswagen Golf car. It was named this because of the explosive noise it makes (vrrrrrr phaaaa).
Example

He came in with a vrr phaa and all the girls went crazy.

Skhokho 29 April 2021
A term that is used to refer to light skinned people (mostly girls).

If you are a guy and someone calls you a yellow bone, then something is wrong my guy 😂
Example

We were just chilling and this yellow bone came in and everyone was looking at her. It was like a dream 😍

Skhokho 29 April 2021
It's the face of a person who has been drinking for a long time / a drunkard. That face that looks like leather.
Example

This person is old, can't you see that phuza face?

Skhokho 29 April 2021

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