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.

Hun

Hun is a South African slang term for a girl or chick.
Example

Khayelitsha huns will finish your money and leave you.

Yanga CPT 17 May 2024
Khayelitsha is a township in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, on the Cape Flats. The name is Xhosa for New Home. It is reputed to be one of the largest and fastest-growing townships in South Africa.
Example

I was born and bred in Khayelitsha.

Yanga CPT 17 May 2024
Skoli is a term mostly use in Cape Town that means a thief.
Example

You should be careful when walking here, there's a lot of skolis.

Yanga CPT 17 May 2024
Ngqaya is a term mostly used in Cape Town that means to buy.
Example

Ekse, ndifuna ukungqaya lewey.

Ekse, I want to buy this thing.

Yanga CPT 17 May 2024
Nikhona is a Nguni term that means β€œare y’all here?” or β€œare y’all around?”

This term is mostly seen in TikTok comments by South Africans when they invade people’s comment sections.
Example

No one:



South Africans in comments: Nikhona? πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦

Chief 17 May 2024
An entreprennyo is someone who exchanges nnyo (pussy/cunt) for money.
Example

She just bought a new car, she’s a real entreprennyo.

Morena 22 May 2024
Nnyo is a Sotho term that means cunt or pussy.
Example

Ke nyaka nnyo today.

Morena 22 May 2024
Mfanaka is a Sotho term that loosely translates to "my boy". It is used to mean my friend, my bro.
Example

Eita, dintshang mfanaka?

How's it going, my boy.

Morena 24 May 2024
Ntjaka is a Sotho slang term that loosely translates to "my dog". It is used in the context of a friend (my friend).
Example

I'll see you tomorrow, ntjaka.

Morena 24 May 2024
Jukulyn is a very dangerous area of Soshanguve, beginning at the north end of the Mabopane Highway. Ambulances, courier services, e-hailing taxis and even pizza deliveries are a no-go in Jukulyn.
Example

She wanted me to go pick her up kgante she stays in Jukulyn. I am not risking my life.

Morena 24 May 2024
Jozi is a colloquial term for Johannesburg, the most populous city in South Africa.
Example

I’m moving to Jozi.

DRex 28 May 2024
Umaqondana is a South African slang term for a main chick or β€œthe one”.
Example

Ngimtholile umaqondana.

I have found the one.

DRex 28 May 2024

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