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.

Umkhwetha (plural: abakhwetha) is an initiate (a boy going through the circumcisions/initiation period) in Xhosa.
Example

Umkhwetha has to eat food without salt for the first few days

MXhosa 02 June 2021
Stokoloko is a Xhosa informal term for a "dog without teeth". The term can be used to refer to someone who is not a threat.
Example

Haisuka ngu stokoloko lo, inja engenamazinyo.

MXhosa 30 May 2021
Inxila is a Xhosa term for a drunkard.
Example

Ubhuti wakho linxila lokwenyani.

Translation: Your brother is a real drunkard.

MXhosa 28 May 2021
It's a SePitori word used to refer to garbage collectors.
Example

It's Wednesday today, bo rra madumbu ba tla.

Lels 28 May 2021
Its a word that is mostly used out of disappointment or maybe when seeking attention from someone who's ignoring you
Example

Outta disappointment : "yah neh,that boy really turned out to be a skrr skrr"



When seeking attention :

you : yah neh😒

Her : what

You : so you just gonna ignore me like that

BkayGee 26 May 2021
Iskhebereshe is a South African slang term for a whore or sfebe.
Example

You need to stay away from that skhebereshe.

Skhokho 24 May 2021
Sbhanxa or sibhanxa is a Xhosa term for an idiot or a fool.
Example

Yeer usisbhanxa ke khona wena ufunda lewey lol

MXhosa 24 May 2021
ibhentse is a very vulgar Xhosa term for a vagina.
Example

Ndicela undiphe ibhentse.

MXhosa 24 May 2021
They will hurt you.
Example

Tlohela banyana batlao hurda!

Colani 24 May 2021
A Zulu name for a girl that means loved one or loved.

Means loved.
Example

Ungothandiwe kakhulu .

Colani 24 May 2021
Tsekeni is a slang zulu word for a beautiful woman. Often used in Kwa-Zulu Natal
Example

Bafo uyali bona leli tsekeni eligqoke icrop top.

Bunny chow 23 May 2021
The skrr skrr way of saying clean.
Example

Just got a new haircut. I look tlean.

Zet 21 May 2021

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