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.

North West is an inland South African province that borders Botswana. Its landscape is defined by mountains in the northeast and bushveld scattered with trees and shrubs.
Example

I can't wait to go to North West and see Sun City.

Maps 14 June 2024
The Northern Cape is South Africa's largest province, with desert landscapes, wildlife and gemstones.
Example

I have never been to the Northern Cape.

Maps 14 June 2024
Izinyoka is a South African term that is used for Electricity cable thieves.



Izinyoka means snakes in Zulu (direct translation)
Example

We don't have electricity here because of izinyoka.

Masiya 18 June 2024
Mampara week is the week before payday, where everyone just doesn’t have money.
Example

Friend: Let’s go out.

Me: I can’t, you know it’s Mampara Week.

Zama 21 June 2024
Qonce is the Xhosa name for King Williams Town in Eastern Cape.
Example

Born and bred eQonce, chief.

AP 22 June 2024
Fororo is the ass crack, especially the one that shows when the pants are falling.
Example

When I saw my mechanic’s for, I knew he was the right one for the job.

Zama 25 June 2024
Soshanguve is a township situated about 30 km north of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, just east of Mabopane. The name Soshanguve is an acronym for Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni and Venda, thus showing the multi-ethnic composition of the population.
Example

If you can make it in Soshanguve, you can make it anywhere.

Morena 26 June 2024
Mabopane is a residential township in South Africa. It is situated in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, to the north of Pretoria in Gauteng.
Example

I was visiting a friend in Mabopane.

Morena 26 June 2024
Venda or Tshivenda is a Bantu language and an official language of South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is mainly spoken by the Venda people or Vhaven?a in the northern part of South Africa's Limpopo province, as well as by some Lemba people in South Africa.
Example

MacG is Venda, by the way.

LinguistZA 26 June 2024
Inja is a Nguni term for a dog.
Example

Lo mjita yinja.
This guy is a dog.

LinguistZA 26 June 2024
Another level
Example

"Do you know where I'm qwelling?"

Tinevimbo 26 June 2024
It's a Xhosa slang word for a watch
Example

Where is ihlongo lam

snezzo 29 June 2024

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