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.
Khayelitsha huns will finish your money and leave you.
I was born and bred in Khayelitsha.
You should be careful when walking here, there's a lot of skolis.
Ekse, ndifuna ukungqaya lewey.
Ekse, I want to buy this thing.
This term is mostly seen in TikTok comments by South Africans when they invade peopleβs comment sections.
No one:
South Africans in comments: Nikhona? πΏπ¦
She just bought a new car, sheβs a real entreprennyo.
I'll see you tomorrow, ntjaka.
She wanted me to go pick her up kgante she stays in Jukulyn. I am not risking my life.
Iβm moving to Jozi.
Ngimtholile umaqondana.
I have found the one.