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.

Unozethe is what Xhosa people say to refer to someone who is extremely annoying.
Example

Yhu unezothe ke la bhuti.

That man is extremely annoying.

MXhosa 05 August 2021
Fokkol is a popular South African term for Nothing, dololo, nix.
Example

I fear fokkol!!!

Varsity Dude 04 August 2021

Tao

Tao is a slang term for a 'thousand' (money).
Example

My life would be better if I could get 5 tao right now.

Mr Trends 04 August 2021
Msotra is the slang term for Soweto township.
Example

Ngise Msotra and I'm chillin' with the thugs

DRex 04 August 2021
Idlala is a Kasi term for a house.
Example

I want to buy idlala before I turn 30.

Skhokho 04 August 2021
Rekere is a Fool
Example

O nketsa rekere(You are making me a fool)

Dee 69 01 August 2021
A term we used to use back in the day to refer to the 50c coin. Ama2000 would not know it.
Example

No one:


5 year old me: Ndicela noba yi zuka to buy sweets.

MXhosa 29 July 2021
It is not Xhosa but Zulu phrase meaning to disapprove an act. It goes together with phrases like, kahle no, musa bo, woza bo, mana no, etc
Example

Hhayi bo wnzani?

Thembelani Sithole 27 July 2021

Ow

Ow is a term Xhosa girls use to refer to a boyfriend.
Example

Ngeyam i-Ow, ndingalwa ndibebomvu.

MXhosa 26 July 2021
Mjondolo is another term for informal settlements (mkhukhu).
Example

There is an movement called Abahlali basemjondolo

DRex 23 July 2021
ibhantinti is another term for a prisoner.
Example

He got arrested last year, libhantinti ngoku.

MXhosa 22 July 2021
A name given to people of high status
Example

Mpesu

Antonio 22 July 2021

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