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.

women crush Wednesday is a day dedicated to all the important women in our lives. it's is celebrated every Wednesday with the hastag #WomenCrushWednessday
Example

happy women crush Wednesday to all the women❀️

Onset • 18 September 2023
A South African slang term for someone with a big butt or nyash.
Example

I don't like squats cause I don' t wanna be a mapakisha.

Skhokho • 01 September 2023
Haganapayi or haganapie is a Xhosa slang word that means empty head or idiot.
Example

Don’t tell me about that haganapayi, azithi dadobawo pha.

MXhosa • 29 August 2023
Rabha (pronounced rubber) is a Xhosa slang term for a kiss.
Example

When she got here, ndiye ndamthi rabha.

When she got here, I gave her a kiss.

MXhosa • 29 August 2023
This is an Afrikaans swear term that directly translates to β€œyour mother’s vagina”. It’s similar to jou mase poes.
Example

Voetsek with your nonsense, Jou mase gat.

Danny • 25 August 2023
Thonqo is a Xhosa slang term for an idiot or a fool.
Example

Haisuka ngu thonqo lo

This is an idiot.

MXhosa • 27 July 2023
A South African slang term for money.
Example

I can’t wait to get amarherheba month end.

Danny • 24 July 2023
A term used in South Africa to refer to money. Madiba is Nelson Mandela's clan name and his face is on the South African bank notes, hence the term.
Example

I can’t come if there’s no Madibas.

Danny • 24 July 2023
What's going on, what's up
Example

Hey, dintshang?

Thusanang Kennedy • 21 July 2023
The act of pretending to be doing something while doing absolutely nothing. It was perfected by Panyaza Lesufi, Bheki Cele and Fikile Mbalula.

Lesufism involves; a strong PR team, looking busy, taking pictures, and garnering a huge following.
Example

Nothing will happen there, they will just take pictures and address the people. That’s lesufism for you.

Danny • 20 July 2023
It is a language
Example

I speak Tsonga

lesetja • 03 July 2023
Ibobosi is a term used in Gqeberha that means a shack.
Example

I'm going back to ibobosi lam very soon.

MXhosa • 24 June 2023

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