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.

Mdantsane is a township in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is the second largest township in South Africa, after Soweto.
Example

That boxer is from the streets of Mdantsane.

Chief 14 June 2023

BBL

BBL is short for Brazilian Butt Lift. This is what these influencers do to make their nyash big.
Example

β€œSkatlo nyela wena ka BBL that looks like rugby player’s shoulders” - Seemah

Siya 23 June 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
It is a language
Example

I speak Tsonga

lesetja 03 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
What's going on, what's up
Example

Hey, dintshang?

Thusanang Kennedy 21 July 2023
This is a name given to Nigerians after they tried stealing amapiano from South Africans.
Example

Amapiano colonisers are all over Sunnyside and Hillbrow.

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
A South African slang term for money.
Example

I can’t wait to get amarherheba month end.

Danny 24 July 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
Skrr skrr niggers are mostly born in 2000 .. They wear weird clothes and walk around high thinking they belong in america.. Mostly they are identified by their slung accent , nick names like ayc durk, black dugger or yng notolious .. And they listen to weird hip hop musics.. Mostly made in this generation thinking that they made it in life and also tend to think like they are similar to their favourite rapper.. One of the most favourite rapper of these screw screw niggers is j cole..
Example

Hes a skrr skrr nigger that's why he speaks in that way..

She realised that hes a skrr skrr nigger after he broke up with her

Marcus 31 July 2023
The most useless president South Africa has ever had.
Example

Things are falling apart in Mzansi because of Cyril Ramaphosa.

CG 05 August 2023

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