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.

Ku bird is a term that means "it's bad". Like when the situation gets really really bad. People use "bird" because it sounds the same as "bad".
Example

I only have R3.50 in my bank account. Ku bird!

Marawa 06 June 2021
Is a conceptual art t-shirt and sneaker brand that turns concepts into art in a form of fashion expression.
Example

I love the t-shirt that I bought from ABSTRACT WRLD DESIGNS.

A$AP WRLD 06 June 2021
Masonja are Mopane worms that are mostly eaten in Limpopo.
Example

I would rather starve than to eat masonja.

Marawa 06 June 2021
Limpopo is one of the provinces in South Africa. It was formerly called the Northern Province because it's in the northern part of South Africa.
Example

Limpopo is one of my favourite places to visit.

Marawa 06 June 2021
A filler word usually meaning "but"

It can be added in the beginning, middle, or the end of a sentence.
Example

Mara why it is so expensive?

He's good looking mara he's not a good person.

Why do we have to be so broke, mara?

S.J 07 June 2021
1. Chalk.

2. South African slang for 20 Rands
Example

1. UMa'am ufuna ichogo.

2. How much do you want? Nginechogo

S.J 07 June 2021
A word in any of the Nguni languages, a prefix for "I have"
Example

Ngine- (I have)

imali (money)

Ngine+imali = Nginemali (I have money)

S.J 07 June 2021
Money
Example

Ngifuna imali

S.J 07 June 2021
An imaginary day in Wendy Williams' mind
Example

Who lied to Wendy Williams about Wendy Williams Day?

S.J 07 June 2021
Nguni, cluster of related Bantu-speaking ethnic groups living in South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

They speak Xhosa, Zulu, Swati and Ndebele.
Example

We should unite as Nguni people and stop this tribalism.

MXhosa 07 June 2021
Material Don Dada was a Skhothane that was once the coolest kid in Mzansi, a title now owned by Uncle Vinny.
Example

The Skhothane culture died with Don Dada.

Zet 07 June 2021
Suddenly/quickly and unexpectedly.
Example

jiki jiki, a gusheshe came hurtling round the corner.

Catalyst_X 07 June 2021

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