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.

Someone who is not good at something
Example

Chomi ya ka ke patla ka bolo

Philly Kabelo 28 November 2022
Majita Monday is a movement striving to create a safe space for men to talk about their emotional intelligence and mental wellness. It is celebrated every Monday with the hashtag #MajitaMonday.
Example

Happy Majita Monday to you all, gents ❀

CG 28 November 2022
Is someone whom u consider to be ur brother / someone close to u but some people think that a male bestie is someone who wants to ruin ur relationship. That is not true, a male bestie is like a boy bestie.
Example

A male bestie stands by u when u are in tough times

Shaba 28 November 2022
Xokshame is a Xhosa social media slang term for "I am joking / I am lying".
Example

I hate my ex girlfriend. Lol xokshame.

MXhosa 29 November 2022
Example

Mmata im broke

Godz 02 December 2022
A well shaped, clean and attractive girl
Example

I saw a speke

Godz 02 December 2022
A SePitori word meaning "something"
Example

"Ako botse ane deng mfanaka"

"Let me tell you something buddy"

Godz 02 December 2022
Fanagalo or Fanakalo is an informal language mainly spoken in mines across South Africa. It is composed of frequently corrupted elements of the Nguni languages, English and Afrikaans.
Example

I knew they were Zama zamas because I heard them speaking Fanagalo.

Mazembe 07 December 2022
I’m Xhosa, isidovela is a meal where rice is cooked with potatoes in the same pot. You mix it until it kinda looks like pap. You also have to add Spice for rice or Rajah to make it yellow.
Example

Today I am cooking isidovela.

MXhosa 14 December 2022
A derogatory Afrikaans slang term for a gay person. Similar to the word faggot in English.
Example

You don’t watch football? ⚽️ you might be a moffie

LinguistZA 14 December 2022
Istabane or isitabane is a derogatory term for a gay person.
Example

Dai man ke stabane.

That man is gay.

LinguistZA 14 December 2022

Ntu

Ntu means a human being and it emphasises that there is spirit of oneness and harmony among people and nature.
Example

Funda ukuphilisana na-ba-ntu

Mfanelo 29 December 2022

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