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.

Imama is a term that's been trending on social media that means a woman or a girlfriend.
Example

Imama must be beautiful unprovoked.

Skhokho 13 October 2022
Drop is a Kasi term for gonorrhea (a type of STI).
Example

He got a drop after sleeping with that girl last week.

Skhokho 06 October 2022
Nothern Sotho word, popular in Limpopo use to describe a beautiful girl.
Example

That girl is hot gents. Ke Letsabitsa.

Sir Austine D. 03 October 2022
1. Refers to a stupid/childish person.
Example

"ejoh wena o slatsa!"

"bro you're stupid"

Tebogo 01 October 2022
Imoto is a Nguni term for a car.
Example

Xhosa: Ndiyayithanda imoto yam.

Zulu: Ngiyayithanda imoto yami.

LinguistZA 07 September 2022
Ukudla is the formal Zulu term for food.
Example

Ngifuna ukudla kwami.

I want my food.

LinguistZA 07 September 2022
A translender is a person who is fat on the outside but slender on the inside. Basically a slender person stuck in a fat person's body.
Example

Don't be fooled by this mkhaba, I'm s translender.

Skhokho 05 September 2022
Isgaxa or isigaxa means Big news, like WOW, like Yhoo, like I don't believe it.
Example

Everyday is a new sgaxa, I've run out of haibos.

Sinazo 22 June 2022
After 9 is a term used to refer to men who act straight but are secretly gay or homosexual at night (After 9pm).
Example

Ma after 9 are always after my friend at groove.

CG 20 June 2022
Luphi ugqoko is a chant or a phrase introduced by Bhinca Nation especially Blue Reigning Nation meaning "Where is the wooden tray/wooden board". It is directed to Khangelani DSD "Isilo" "Ugqoko lukazwelonke" Mhlongo, who has contributed a lot in South African traditional Music, Maskandi.
Example

Luphi ugqoko lukazwelonke? Luuuuphi?

Mlindo 10 June 2022
When a group of Maskandi Artists chants to see their King of Kings (Isilo) in the Maskandi genre. The current King of Kings is Dr Khangelani "DSD" “uGqoko” Mhlongo.
Example

Ziyahlaba izinsizwa “LUPHI UGQOKO” lwethu

Maskandi King 05 June 2022
Isithembu is the practice of marrying multiple wives (Polygamy).
Example

Isithembu is becoming popular again in South Africa.

MXhosa 30 May 2022

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