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.

Is another word for nonsense or rubbish.
Example

The students write chuchubaby's during their exams.

Or who wrote the chuchubaby on my car.

Young Sawce 06 June 2021
Ikhaya lokugqibela is a term in Xhosa that means the last resting place (where a person is buried).
Example

I'm praying for everyone who tries to steal my lover to go kwikhaya lakhe lokugqibela

MXhosa 02 June 2021
A SePitori term for a beautiful or a hot girl.
Example

My girlfriend ke chipi mara.

Chief 26 May 2021
intshiza is a Xhosa slang term for a gun.
Example

I had to give them my phone, one of them ebephethe intshiza.

MXhosa 26 May 2021
Bathu is a kasi slang term for shoes.
Example

Ola boy, we see your new bathu iyababa.

Skhokho 24 May 2021
Inkqayi is a Xhosa term for chiskop. Like when you cut all of your hair (bald).

A lot of people misspell it as nqayi.
Example

Soze ndiphinde ndichebe inkqayi.

MXhosa 24 May 2021
Bobby is a common name for a dog (usually bad dogs).
Example

Mlume bobby! Mlume!

Bunny chow 23 May 2021
Ukunqanqatheka is a Xhosa term for cigarette or tobacco cravings.

When one is craving a cigarette, we say unqanqathekile, or s/he will say ndinqanqathekile.
Example

The way ndinqanqatheke ngayo you'd swear I didn't just smoke now.

MXhosa 21 May 2021
Not to be confused with a town (place). To town is the act of having unprotected sex (skoon). It is generally used by Xhosa people.
Example

Ey wena the way you like to town, you will get sick.

MXhosa 17 May 2021
Is A South African slang term for food or eating.
Example

The only thing I want now yi gawula.

MXhosa 16 May 2021
Nyoba is a Xhosa term for bribing. To bribe someone is to ukunyoba.
Example

If I get caught by traffic cops, ndiyanyoba and it all goes well.

MXhosa 15 May 2021
Laduma is a South African phrase that is generally spoken (or screamed) when a goal is scored in soccer.
Example

What a goal... Laduuuuuuumaaaa!!!

MXhosa 13 May 2021

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