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.
I have applied at UNISA, I want to study while chilling at home.
Yoh dawg, I don't remember the last time I attended a lecture. I've been pulling a UNISA this semester.
The word was popularised on social media after Naomi Campbell said ‘amandala’ instead of the correct ‘amandla’ at the Global Citizen Festival in 2018.
You'll be strong. Hayi wethu Amandala to you.
Did you see Paul Pogba doing the Gwara gwara?
Oksalayo Kaizer Chiefs is still the best team in the country.
He started crying during tlof tlof.
It does not matter what you say, oksalayo I can beat you.
Can also be spelt as chandapha.
yoh this girl ke shandapha.
Disappoint me again, Mabena.
I need to get myself a bakkie for when I go to the villages.
My roomza likes stealing my groceries.