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.

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
Dagga is the term we use in South Africa to refer to weed.
Example

I can't wait to get home and smoke my dagga.

LinguistZA 12 October 2022
Fatcake filled with chicken livers, mince or vegetables
Example

Andiwuthandi lona umdundu.

Peekay 08 October 2022
Ukuqabula is an informal Xhosa term for taking out babalaas. Basically the act of drinking the morning after a heavy night of drinking.
Example

I'm dying from babalaas now, ndifuna ukuqabula.

MXhosa 27 September 2022
Is a term used in South Africa to refer to a situation where two people who are not married are living together.
Example

Those ones will never get married. They've been doing vat n sit for more than 5 years.

Skhokho 03 May 2022
Die poppie sal dans is a popular South African term that means there will be trouble or havoc.
The direct translation from Afrikaans is: The dolls will dance
Example

Mom told them to take out the meat from the freezer in the morning and they forgot. Die poppie sal dans when she comes back from church.

Mr Trends 01 May 2022
Orlando Pirates AKA Bhakaniya is a South African soccer club that plays in the top-tier system of Football in South Africa known as Premier Soccer League.
Example

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are the biggest rivals in the continent of Africa.

MXhosa 01 May 2022
A meal that is generally cooked on Sundays in many households across Mzansi.

It is coined as 7 colours because it comprises a lot of colourful ingredients; a mix of vegetables, starch and meat that make up various colours.
Example

I went home last weekend and my highlight was the 7 colours oledi cooked.

MXhosa 01 May 2022
Maskandi is a kind of Zulu folk music / genre that is dominant amongst the Zulu population of South Africa.
Example

I enjoy listening to Maskandi

My favourite Maskandi artist is Mgqumeni

Chief 18 April 2022
A hit song by the legendary Mandoza and it almost became the National Anthem but Sister Betina overtook it.
Example

Can you please play the Nkalakatha song.

Chief 14 February 2022
Plural: Amabhinca
Ibhinca is a Zulu person who practices their traditional Zulu culture, including wearing the traditional attire and listening to Maskandi
Example

I had to act like I love Maskandi cause I was drinking with ibhinca.

Mr Trends 23 August 2021
This word comes from the Xhosa language, and is mostly used by the Xhosa speaking people."Ncmsl" Is a short word for "Ncamisile".It is means unbelievable.
Example

"Chomi uLisa undifuna back"

"Ncmsl"

yonelisa. 28 July 2021

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