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.

Mxit was a popular South African social media platform before the times of WhatsApp.

That's what we used to get girls back in the day.
Example

Niggas had a girlfriend in every province during the Mxit days 🤣

Skhokho 04 May 2021

Wud

It's those mxit abbreviations from back in the day that means "What are you doing"
Example

Guy: Hi

Girl: Hi

Guy: Hud

Girl: Gud u

Guy: Gud, wud?

Danny 04 May 2021

Hud

It's those mxit abbreviations from back in the day that means "How u doing"
Example

Guy: Hi

Girl: Hi

Guy: Hud

Girl: Gud u

Guy: Gud, wud?

Danny 04 May 2021

Tik

Tik is the South African street name for crystal meth. It also goes by the street name thsuf.
Example

These boys smoke tik and terrorize the community.

Varsity Dude 04 May 2021
Thsuf is another South African street name for crystal meth or tik.
Example

They smoke thsuf and do iwalk ye phara.

Varsity Dude 04 May 2021

BRB

BRB is an abbreviation for Be Right Back that is used when texting. It was mostly used during the mxit days.
Example

BRB, have to go take a shit.

Danny 04 May 2021
Another term that refers to Covid-19.
Example

This coco has made things difficult for everyone.

Danny 04 May 2021
Another term that refers to Covid / Coronavirus.

Also see Coco
Example

The third wave of covivi is looming.

Danny 05 May 2021
A Xhosa term that is used to refer to a castrated animal (an animal whose balls/testicles have been cut off).
Example

This cow can't make kids because yi nkabi.

Sinazo 05 May 2021
A side chick is a girl that is being dated by a guy who is in a serious relationship with someone else (main chick).
Example

The girl he was with is his side chick.

Sinazo 05 May 2021
The girl who is in a serious relationship with a guy, but that guy is casually dating other people (side chick).
Example

I don't care what he does oksalayo I am the main chick.

Sinazo 05 May 2021
A nyatsi is a woman who is dating a married man. Sort of the same as a side chick.
Example

No one:

Daily Sun: Korobela chased my nyatsi.

Sinazo 05 May 2021

© 2020 Africtionary®