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.

Last number is a Kasi term for the best of the best, the top of the range, top class.
Example

I'm buying the last number Kota.

OD 16 July 2022
A tin can.
Example

Pass us the blikkie, bru.

bronzie94 03 August 2022
Marijuana, weed
Example

We smoked nkantina last night

60Daze 08 August 2022
A fictitious story or a tale. Like those tales you'd hear about from parents/teachers/friends or read when you were younger.
Example

"A man and his daughter were walking in the forest..."
Welele... inganekwane!

DRex 10 August 2022
A verified viby person who is more likely to attend gatherings (Parties, groovy tarvens, pubs and clubs) etc. At "Nkamodira", "Motimalenyora Tavern", "Daboogies".
Example

Today's GROOVISTS are more focused

Lawd OG 13 August 2022
The best soccer player South Africa has ever produced.
Example

Teko Modise played for Orlando Pirates.

DRex 01 September 2022
Maleven was a South African criminal who used to hijack cars and do house breakings around Benoni. He rose into fame after his interview with BBC. He is rumoured to have passed away.
Example

Maleven: I will show you with your last born if you don't want to give me money.

Skhokho 02 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
Ipipi is a term in South Africa that means a penis.
Example

Unepipi enkulu.

He has a big penis.

Danny 06 September 2022
Ukutya is the Xhosa formal term for food.
Example

Ndifuna ukutya kwam.

I want my food

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

Ngifuna ukudla kwami.

I want my food.

LinguistZA 07 September 2022
Imoto is a Nguni term for a car.
Example

Xhosa: Ndiyayithanda imoto yam.

Zulu: Ngiyayithanda imoto yami.

LinguistZA 07 September 2022

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