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.

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

Unepipi enkulu.

He has a big penis.

Danny 06 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
The best soccer player South Africa has ever produced.
Example

Teko Modise played for Orlando Pirates.

DRex 01 September 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
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
Marijuana, weed
Example

We smoked nkantina last night

60Daze 08 August 2022
A tin can.
Example

Pass us the blikkie, bru.

bronzie94 03 August 2022
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
Amazaza is a South African slang term for Sunglasses.
Example

Why are you wearing amazaza at night?

Skhokho 02 July 2022
Mpesu is a substance made from the bark of the Securidaca longipedunculata tree, which aids men in terms of obtaining an erection and other sexual problems such as weak eraction, early ejaculation, low sex drive. Mpesa can be Mpesu
Example

/ɪmˈpɛsu/
My friend uses mpesu

Ukutula-tula is isiBhaca word meaning to wander around.
Example

Ebetula-tula yonke indzawo.

He was wandering all over the place

Thobelani Ncapai 27 June 2022
Gurans is a slang term used by Cape Town Xhosa speaking community that means war between rival gangs or individuals.
Example

Ingathi ikhona igurans between lamajita.

It looks like there is some war/conflict between those guys.

Yanga CPT 27 June 2022

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