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.

A slang term for sex or tlof tlof.
Example

Why do guys fall asleep immediately after umdavazo?

Danny 04 November 2022
isichitho is curse or spell that is made by people using a muthi to make a divisions in a relationship, sometimes families, by making a victim unattractive and annoying.
Example

They tried to use isichitho to make my boyfriend dump me.

Sinazo 04 November 2022
It literally means a farmer makes a plan.

It’s testament to the fact that the Afrikaner will figure stuff out. If there’s a problem, he’ll find a workaround. If something is scarce, he’ll find a substitute.
Example

These power cuts are annoying but 'n Boer maak 'n plan.

Gert 04 November 2022
Afrikaners are a South African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th and 18th centuries
Example

Contrary to popular belief, Afrikaners are also Africans.

Gert 04 November 2022
Cyril Ramaphosa is the current president of the Republic of South Africa.
Example

We are calling for Cyril Ramaphosa to answer for his Phala Phala farm saga.

Sinazo 07 November 2022
Nkandla is a town in the uThungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the district where former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma is from.
Example

I want to visit Nkandla this December.

DRex 08 November 2022
To ukusikiphiko is when you are in the front seat of a car and have your elbow outside of the window.
Example

Did you see him in his friend's car, ebesikiphiko and pretending not to see us.

MXhosa 10 November 2022
Ukusarha is a slang term that means you are always asking for things from people. For example, you are always asking for free alcohol, you never buy.
Example

Yho I don't wanna chill with that guy again, uyasharha.

MXhosa 10 November 2022
A man who has underwent initiation into manhood following the traditional teachings and cultural practices of amaHlubi.
Example

IZawa liyahlonipha.



IZawa is a respectful person

Hlubelihle Ka 11 November 2022
A frontal refers to a hairpiece that has a strip of material which runs from ear to ear.
Example

Every girl deserves ifrontal this December.

Sinazo 15 November 2022
Used to define a beautiful girl with nyash,like your imaginary hun
Example

That hun is a stocko

Clownese 20 November 2022
A guy/ gentleman/clever man
Example

How's it Mjita; 'm just Moja (fine)

JB Zwa 20 November 2022

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